^■f^ ' *^*^IPK*

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Library

of the

University of Toronto

i

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'^:

THfc

ESSAIES

OF S^ FRANCIS

Bacon Knight, the
Kings Atturny Ge-

neralU

^ His Religious Medi-
tations,

^ Places of Perfwafion
and Diflwafion.

H

Scene and allowed. 1

63696669 |

Printed at London for /<>^«^^^"|2j
ga^-^j dwelling at the Hand and Starre jfi
betvveene the two Temple M

Gates. i6is. ■

1 o my Loumg" '

brother ^ S' I o h n

C O N S T A'^E L E ""^^ Kvi|

-^ ^y Knight. ^ ^

r Usi FJfaies Idedica^
ted to my deare brother
Maiftcr Anthony Ba-
con, vpho ts with God,
Looking among ft my
Papers this vacation^I found other 5 of
the fame nature : which if I my felfe
fhal not fujfer to he loft, it feemeth the
fVorldwf/not ^ by the often Tr in ting of
^ 3 the

Thctp.. ic Dedicatory,

the former Mijfin^ my Brother J fomd
jou nextjin refpeEl off? on d both of near
alliance y andofftraight frtendfhip and
foctety^ andparticnUrly of communis
cation injiudies, WhsreiK Imujl: ac^
knowledge my felfe beholdjng to you.
For OA my hujineffe fotind refi in my
eontem^Utions ; fo my contem-pUttons
ener found refi in your lomng confe-
rence and indgement. So wtf^ngyou al
good^I remaine

Your louing Brother
and Friend,

Fra.Bacon,

The Table,

1 ^^F Relights.

2 \J Of Death.

3 OfGoodneSyandgoodnejfeof

Nature,

4 Of (^Hnning,

5 OfMarrsage andfingle lifu

6 Of Parents andChddren*

7 Of Nob tiny.

^ Of Great f lace.
9 Of Empire,
loOfCoufjfilL

11 Of Dflfatch.

12 Of Lofie.
I'^OfFriendfhif^
T^Of Athetfme.
l^OfSfiperfitthn.

1 6 Ofmfedomefor a mdttsfelfe^

1 7 OfRegtment of Health f
lSOfExpe»ces.
i^OfDffcourfe.

A^ 20 Of

The Table.

20 Offeemmg wife.

21 Of Riches,
'i'^'OfAmhition,

2"^ Of Tomg LMeft and Age.

24 Of Beauty.

^^OfTicformity.

3 6 OfKature in Men,

27 Of Cufiome and Eduction.

2% Of Fortune.

19 Of Studies.

3 o Of Ceremonies and Re^eBf.

SiOfSutors.

3 2 Of Followers^

35 Of Negociating.

34 OfFaEiien.

S^OfPraife.

^6 Of Judicature.

3 7 OfVaine-glory.

3 ^ Ofgreatnejfe of Kingdomes*

39 Of the ?uhlique.

40 Of War re and Peace.

41 Of Honor andRejutatisn,

i^&mMW^m^i^m. c^mff.g^

ESSAIES.

I. Of Religion.

I He quarrels, and di-
iUifions for Religion y
were tuilsvnknowne
to the Heathen: and
__ no maruell ; for it is
the true God that is the icalous
God; and the Gods of the Hea-
then were good fellowes . But yet
the bonds of religious vnity , are \o
to be Hrengthencd^as the bonds of

humane

of Religion,
humane focicty bcc not diflolucd.
LucretiHi the Poet, when he beheld
the ad oi Jgantemnon ^ mdunn^
and afTifting at the Sacrifice of his
Pauj^hccr, concludes with this
Verfe;

^iantum reltgigfotuit fuadere male*

But what would hee haue done,
if he had knowncthc mafTacre of
France , or the Powder Treafon of
England c* Certainly he wjpuld haue
bcene feauen times more Epicure
and Atheift then he was . Nay, he
would ratherhaue chofen to be one
of the Mad men of MnrjTter^ then
to haue beene a partaker of thofe
Counfels. For it is better thatReli-
gion fhould deface mens vndcrftan-
dinp, then their piety and charities
retaining reafon only but as an Ert"
gine, and Chariot dnuer of cruelty

and

ESSAIES.
and mallicc. It was a great blafphe-
niy, when the Deuill iV\dc;Iwi/la'
fee fid, and be Itke the htghesi ; but it is
a greater blalphemy , if they make
God to fay ; I rvtll defcendyand be like
the Prmce of'Dark^eJfe : and ic i s no
better, when they make the caufc
of Reltgtqn dclceiid , to the execra*
ble actions of murthering of Prin-
ces, butchery of people, and fiering
of States. Neitheristherefuch a
finne againll the perfon of the holy
Gholi (if one fhould take it licte-
rally) as inftead oF the likeneffe of
zDoue^ to bring him downe in the
likencfle of a J^ulture ^ or Raueni
nor fuch a fcandall to their Church,
as out of theBarkcof Saint Peter ^
to fei forth the Flat^ge of a Barke
of Pirats^nd Affajfms , Therefore
iincc thefethinges are the common
Enemies of humane Socictie ;
Princes by their power; Churches
by their Decrees; and all learning,
Chriftian,

Of heaw.
Chriflian, Morall , of whatfoeucr
Se6^, or opinion, by their Mercuric
Rod ; ought to ioyne in the dam-
ning to Hell for euer, thcfe facls,
ana their fupports : and in al Coun-
fels concerning Religion, that
Coiinfell of the Apoftle, would bee
prefixedj/r^ hominis non imflet tufli"
tiasn Dei,

^'^c^^c^^''

1. OfVeath.

En fcare death , as Chil-
dren feare to goc in the
darke ; and as that natu-
ral! fearc in Children is
cr.creafed with tales ;fo is the o-
iher. Ccrcainely the fearc of death
b contemplation.of the caufc of it,

and

ESSAIES,
and the iffuc of ir, is religious : but
thefcarc of ir, for it fcJfe is wcake.
Yerin religious Meditations there
is mixture of vanity, and of fuperfti-
tion. You fhall read in fomcof the
Tryers Bookcs of Mortification^
that aManfliouldthinke with him-
fclfe, what the painc is, if hcc hauc
but his fingers endpreflcd, or tor-
tured*, and thereby imagine what
ihcpaincs of Death are, when the
whole body is corrupted and dif-
folued : when many times, Death
paflcth with leflepain^then the tor-
ture of a Limme.For the moft vitall
partes are not the quickeft offence.
Andtofpcakc as a Philofopher or
naturall Man, it was well (M/Pom^
fa mortis magis terrety quarru mors
if fa. Grones, and Convulfions, and
a difcoloured face, and friends wee-
ping, and Blackes, and Obfequies,
and the hke, fhew death terrible. It
is worthy the obferuing, that there

is

Of Death.
js no pafilon in che minde of man fb
weake , but mafters the feare of
Death ; and therefore Death is no
fuch Enemy, v;'hen a man hath To
many followers about him,thatcan
win the combat of him . Reuenge
triumphs ouer Death, Lo»^eftccms
it nor. Honour z.{^\iti\^ to it, deliuc-
ryfrom Igyiominy chufcthit. Griefs
flyeth to it, Tetire preoccupateth it :
nay, wee fee after Otho had flaine
himfelfe,pitty(which is the tendteft
of afFcrdions) prouoked many to
die. Seneca fpeaketh of nicencfle :
Cogita quam dill endewfeceris ; Mdri
velle nen tarn urn fort is, aut mifer^fed
etianufafttdiofui pot eft. It is no leflc
\\/crthy to obferuc how little alte-
ration in good fpirits the approches
of Death make .-but they are the
fame till the la(K Atigufim Ctfard'i'
ed in a complement. TtheriHi\x\ dif-
/imulation, J^effafian'm a \ti\^Galhai
with a {Qnt^ncCiSeptmHs Sefterw in

dii»

ESS A IBS.
difpatcli ; and the like, Certainclie,^
^ thc5ftfii^^jbeftowcd too much coft
.^ vpon Dcathjand by their great pre-
parations made it appeare more
fcarcfull. Better faith he, Quifinem
vitit extremnm^ inter mwura ponat
tiAtHYA. It is as naturall to d^-'^z^ as to
beborne ;and to a httle Infant per-
haps^ the one as paincfiill, as the o^^
thcr.

5. Of QoodneJJe^ and

■ Coodnejfecf Nature.

Take Goodncffe in this
fence, the affed^ing of
the IVeaU of men ,
which isthat the GrA^
cias cal VhiUnthrofia ;
for the word humantty (as it 15 y^^^)

icis

Of Geodnejfe, cjrc.
is a little too light , to cxprefle it,
Goodnes I call the habite ; and Good*
nejje of Nature, the incIination.This
of all vertues, is the greateft: being
the Charrac^er of the Deitie 5 and
without it, man is a bufie, mifchie-
uous, wretched thing : no better
then a kinde of Verminc. GoodtJeffe
anfwcres to chp Theologicall Vcrtue
Chanty i and jS<|rnit5 not exceffe, but
error. The ItWt^s hauc an vngraci-
ous Prouerbe, Tanto bnon^ cheval
ntente ; So good, that hee is good for
nothing. And oncof thcDo6lours
of Italte^ Nicholas CMachUuel had
the confidence to put in writing, al-
moft in plaine tcarmcs ; That the
Chrijiian Faith had giuen Vf good
tJMen inprejy t^ thofe that are tyran^
nicalland vnmsl ; Which hec fpake,
becaufe indeede there was ncuer
Lawe, or Sc6l, or opinion, did fo
much magnific goodnclle, as the
Chrifl'tan Religion doth . Therefore

to

ESS^IES,
to auoyd the fcandall, aod the dan-
ger both; ic is good to take know-
ledge of the errours of an habite To
'excellent. Sceke the good of oth^r
Men,but be not in bondage to their
faces or fancies : for chat is but fiaci-
lity,andfoftnefle; which takcth an
honeft mind Priioncr. Neither giuc
thou ty£fopf Cocke a Gef9u , who
would be better plcafed and happi-
er, if he had had a Barjy corne. The
example of God tcacheth the lefTon
truly.Hc fendcth his rain, & maketh
his funne to /hine vpon the iuft,and
vniuft ; but he doth not rain wealth,
norfhine honour and vcrtues vpon
men equally. Common benefits arc
to bee communicate with all, but
peculiar benefits with choyfe. And
beware how in making the portrai-
ture, thou break eft the Pattern e.
For 'DiHinitie mukcth the louc
of our felues the Patternc, the
louc of our Neighbours but the
B Tor-

Of Geodneffe, c^c.
Portraiture, Sell all thon hasi attdgiuc
it to the foore, and follow me-^hui fell
not all thou haft, except thou come
and follow me ; that is, except thou
hauea vocation^whereinthou raai-
eftdoe as much good with little
meanes, as with great , ForotheN
wife, in feeding the ftreatnes, thou
dryertthe Fountaine. Neither is
there oncly a habite of Goodnefle,
dire6led by right reafon : but there
isinfomeraen, cuenin Nature ^ a
difpofition towards it : as on theo-
ther fide,there is a naturall maligni-
ty. For there be, that in their nature
docnotaffedlthe good of ethers:
the lighter fort of malignitie, tur-
neth but to a crofneflc, or froward-
neflcj or aptneife to oppofc , or dif-
ficilncffe, or the like ; but the dee-
per fort, toenuy and meere mif-
chiefe. There be many LMifamhro^
pi , that make it their pra6^ife to
bring itfeirtD-irb:4)ough , and ycc
- ■ — ' — — -. haue

ESS AIRS.
baueneuer a Tree for the purpofc
intheirGardcns, as Timon haddc.
Such difpofitions are the very errors
of humAfie Naturs : and yet they
are the fitteft Timber to make greac
Polhtiaues of: hke to knee-timber
that is good for fnippes^that are or-
dained to bee tofled, but not for
building Houles that (hall ftand
firme.

4- OfQunning.

Etzkc Cfi^jmng for a
finifter or crooked
^Wifedome : and cer-
J^tainlythereisagrcac
diffcicnce^betweenc
a Cunnfngman, and

Of Cunning.
a wife man: not only in point of hn%
ncffv>butin point of ability. There
EctKatcanpackethcCards^and vcc
cannot play weLSo there are fomc,
tHic are good in canuafff s and fa»Sli-
onSjthat are otherwifcweakc men.
Again, it is one thing to vnderfland
pcrfons, and another thing CO vn-
derftand matters : for many are per*
fe6lin mens humours , that arc not
greatly capable of the reallpart of
bufincHc ; which is the con(htucion
of one, that hath ftudied men more
thenBookes. Such men arc fitter
forpradlife, then for counfell, and
they arc good but in their owne Al-
ky; turnc them to new men, and
they haue loft theirayme. Soasthe
old rule to know a Foolc from a
Wife man ; OHitte ambos nttdos ad
ignotos ^ vidtbis ; doth fcatfe hold
for thcm.Eucn in bufinefle there arc
fome that know the reforts and fals
ofbufinefTc* that cannot finkcinto

the

ESSAIES.
themaincof ic : like a Houfc that
hach coDucnient (^aires and entries,
bucncuerafaircroome. Therefore
you fhall fee them findeoutprettic
loofesin the conclu(ion,but arc no
waies able to examine or debate
marcers : and yet commonly they
take aduantageof their inability, &
would be thought wits of diredion.
Some build rather vponabufingo-
thers, and as wee now fay, putting
tricks vpon them,then vpon found-
neffe of their own proceedings. But
Salomon faidi ; Prudens aduertit ad
grejfHs fuos : flnltus dtuertit ad dolos.
Very many are the differences be-
tweene Cunning and Wifedorac :
and it were a good decde to fee
them down: for that nothing doth
more hurt in Rate then that cunning
men pafle for wife.

Bj jO/

5^ Of^5\/fariageand

Jingle Lifp.

E that hath Wife &
children, hathgiue
hoftagcsto fortue,
tor they are impe-
diments to great
enterprises , eyther
of verrueornFiifchiffe. Certainelic
the bcft works, and of greatcft me-
rit for the publike, haue proceeded
from the vnmarried , or childlefTe
Men, which hauc fought; eremitic
inmemory, and -ooc in pofteritie;
and which both in affedlion and
meanes, hauemaried and endowed
the publike . Yet fome there are,

that

ESSAIES.

that lead a fingle life, whofe
thoughts jfioe end with themfelues,
and doe account future times, im-
pertinences. Nay, there are fome o-
ihers,thatefteeme Wife and Chil-
dren, but as bils ofcliarges. But the
moft ordinary caufe of a Hnglelife^
is libertic ; ejpecially in certaine
felfc-pleafing and humorous minds^
which are fo fenfiblc of cuery re-
fl:ri(^ion , as they will goe neerc to
thinkc their Girdles and Garters to
be bonds and (hackles. Vniriarneii----^
men are bcft Friends; bcft Maiftersj
bcft Seruants; not alwaies befl fub-
icc^s ; for they are light to runne a- a«
way : and almoft all fugitiues are of
that condition ♦ A fingle life is pro*
per for Church-men . For Charitie
will hardly water the ground, whcr
it murt firft fill a poole. It is indiffe-
rent for ludges and Magiflrates.For
if they bee facile and corrupt , you
flial haue a Scruant fiue times worfc
B 4 then

>

Of Marriage^ &c,
then a Wife. For Souldiours, I findf
the Generals commonly in thci.
hortatiues,putmen in mindofthcii
Wiues,and Children .-and I thinke
the defpifing of Marriage, amongll
theTurkes, maketh the vulgar
Souldiour more bafe . Certaineiy,
Wife and Children are a kind ofdif-
ciplinc of humanity : and fingle
men are more cruel and hard-hear-
ted: good to make feuerc Inquifi-
tors. Graue natures led by cuftome,
and therefore conftant, are com-
monly louing husbands :as wasfaid
oiVltjfer, ZJitnUfr-i pratuiit immor'
talttati. Chart Wcomen are often
proud and froward, as prefuming
vpon the merit of their chaftity . It
is one of the bcft bonds both of cha
fticy and obedience in the Wife ; if
file thinke her husband wife ; which
fhe will neuer doe, if fhcfindehim
icalous. Wiues arc young mens mi-
ftreffcs 5 Companions for middle

ESSAIES.

age ;and old mens nurfes , So as a
manmay.hauca quarrcll to marric
when fie will; but yec he was repu-
ted one ot'ihe wife men, that made
aun{\AeretG the qiieltion ; fVhen a
Miin fhoM marrj ? A young man
not yet, an elder Man not at all.

6.0f Parent sand

children.

HE \oyt%o^ Varents
arefecrctjandfo arc
their griefes and
feares : they cannot
vtter the one, nor
they will not vtter the other.
Children fvveetcn labours, but
they make misfortunes more
bitter : they increafe the cares

of

Of Parents, &c,
pf life, but they mictigatethe re-
membrance of Dcaih. The perpe-
tuity by generation, is common to
Bcaftes ; but memory, merit, and
Noble workes , araproper to men.
They that are the firfi: raifcrs oftheir
Houfe^ are moft indulgent towards
their Children ; beholding them,
as the continuance, not onely of
their kinde,but of their work ; and
fo both Children and Creatures,
The difference of aflfe^lion in Pa«
rents towardes their feuerall Chil-
dren, is many times vnequall; and
fometimcs vnworthy .* fpeciallic in
the mother; as Salomon faith ; xA
wije Sonne retoyceth the Father y but
an vyjgraciom Sonne fhames the Mo-
ther, A man fliall fee where there is
a houfc full of children, one,or two
of the tX^t^ rcfpedlcd, and the yon-
gcrtmade wantons; but in the mid-
dle, fomc that arc as it were forgot.
ten; who neucrthelcfTe prooue the

be(^.

ESSAIES.

beft. The ilhberality of Parents in
allowance^pwards their Children,
is an harmeriill error : makes them
bafe ; acquaintes them with fhifrs ,
makes them fort with mcane com-
pany ; and makes them furfeit more
when they come to plenty , And
therefore the proofeis bert, when
men keepc their authodty towrards
their Children, but not their puifc.
Menhaue a foolifh manner, both
Parents, Schoole-maillers^and Ser-
uants, in creating and breeding an
emulation betwcene Brothers, du-
ring childhoed, which many times
fortcth to difcord vshen they arc
men, and dirturbeth families » The
Italians make little difference be-^
tweenc Children 3ndNephewcs,or
neereKinsfoIke : But fo they be of
the Lumpe, they care not, though
thcypaffe not through their ownc
body : and to fay truth, in nature it
is much a like matter, info much,

that

Of Nobility.
that wee fee a Nephew fometimcs
refcmbleth an Vnklc oraKinfman,
more then his ownc Parent, as the
blood happens.

h,.

iHiiSii®

-/.OfOXobitity,

T is areucrcndthing
to fee an ancient Ca-
ftle or building not in
decay ; or to fee a fair
timber tree found &
perfedihovv much more to behold
anauncicnt Noble Family, which
,hathrtoodag3infi the Waues and
veaihersoftime. For new Nobili-
ty is but the z&. of power ; but anci-
ent Nobslity is the a(5l of time. The
firftraifers ofF(??'^««^/ are common-
ly more vertuousjbut lefle innocent

then

liicn their dcfcendancs* For there is
rarfly nfing, but bYAcommixcure
oTgood and cuill Arts^ But it is rea-
ion the memory of their vertucb rc-
maine to their pofteriticsj and theis:
faults dye with themfelues. Nohtli'
tj of Birth commonly abatcth in-
duftry landhecthatis notinduftri-
ous , cnuycth hini that is : Be fides
Noble pcrfons, cannot goc much
higher : And hee that ftaadeth at a
ftay when others rife, can hardly a-
uoid motions ofenuy.On the other
fide Nobilitieextinguifhcth the paf-
fiuecnuy in others towaidcs them;
becaufc they are in poffefTion of Ha-
nor : and Enuy \% asjhgjlin beajncs^
that beatc more vpppn ^ rifing
ground, thetvv^^ajjf^ipll- A greac -v^-vxikj
lability addeth Maicfty to a dio"
«4rf^,butdiminillieth power : and
putteth life and Spirit into the peo-
ple ; but preficth their fortuncs.lt is
well when nobles arc not coo greac

for

Of Great Place.
for Soueraigfjty, nor for lufiice ; and
yet maintained in that bcight5as the
infolcncy of inferiors may bee bro-
ken vppon them, before it come on
too faft vpon the Maiefty of Kwgs,
Certainly A'/«^/tbac haue able men
of their Nobihty, fhallfinde eafe in
imploymg them ; and a better (lid
into their bufinefle : For people na-
turally bend to them, as borne in
fome fort to commaund.

V^f^i

Vf;>,

Seriiantsof bufinefle.

En in great Place, arc
thrice Scruants : Ser-
uants of the Soue-
raigne, or State ;Ser-
uanrs of Fame, and

So as they
fiiaiuc:

ESSAIES.
haueno frecdome, neither In thcic
perfons, nor in their ai^ions, nor in
their times. It isaftrangedcGrc to
fcekc power, and to lofc hberty : or
tofeekc power ouer others, and to
lofepower oueramansfelfe . The
rifing vnto place is laborious, and'
by paines men come vnto greater
paines : and it is fomtimes bafe, and
by indignities men come to digni-
ties: the i^anding is flipperie ;and
the regrefle is eyther a downefall,
or at Icaft an Ecc/ipfi ; which is a
mclancholly thing . Nay, retire
mencannotwhen they would, nei-
ther will they wheTi it werercafon;
but are impatient of priuatcnefle,
euen in age and ficknefle, which re-
quire the fhadow. Certain cly^grcajji^
peribhshad necde to borrow other
mens opinions, to think themfelues
{^pV _' ^Qr if they iudgeT)V tTicir
owpc feeling, they cannot finde it ; ^^
but ifthcy thinkc with themfelues,

whac

Of Great Places.
what other men tbinke ot them,and
that other men would taine bee as
they are, then they arc happy as it
were by report, when perhapsthcy
finde the contrary within ; for they
are the firft that finde their owne
griefcs, thougfi they be the lad that
find their owne faults . Certainehe,
men in great fortunes are grangers
to themfclues, and while they arc in
the puzflc of bufinefTe, they haue no
time to tend their health, eythcrof
body or mind. IIU mors grants incH"
hat, qm notus ntmis omntbm^\ ignstus
moriturfbi. In place there is licence
to do good and euill ; whereof the
latter is a curfe : for in euill the beft
condition is^noc to will ; the fccond
not to can. Butpower to do good,
js the true and lawfull end of afpi-
ring^. Forgood thoughts (though
God accept mem) yet towards men
arc little better then good dreams ."
except they be put inA(5^; and that.

cannot

ESSAIES.

canotbe without power and pircc;
as the vantage and commaunding
ground, Mcrir isthccndofmans
motion ; and confcience of merit is
theaccomplifliment of rnaos rcfto
For if a man can in any meafure bee
fznzVtv oi Gods T heater ^t t\:\z\\\\iQ
wife be pzrtzkcr of G^djrefi.^tcon^
sierpfi Dens vt afpiceret opera ^u^fe*
cerunt m^nrnj^nA vtdit ^Hodomnia ef^
fe»tboKanimtSy & then the Sabhath»
In the difchargc of thy pl«ce,fet be-
fore thee the bcrt examples/or imi-
tation is a Globe of precepts. And
after a time, fct before thee thtne
own example, and examine thy fclfc
ftrid^Iy, whether thou didft not bed
at firft.Reforme without braue ry or
fcandall of tormer times & pcrfons,
kut yet fet it downc to thy felfe, af-
wcll to create good prefidents, as
to follow them* Reduce thinges to
the firft inftitution , and obferuc
whcreln,and how, they hatjc dege-
C ncraie;

Of Great Places':
ncratc ; but yet aske Counfell og
both times ; of the Ancient time
whatisbeti;and of the latter time
whatisfitteft . Seckctomake thy
courfcrcguler, that men may know
before hand what they may cxpedl ;
but be not too pofitiue,and exprefle
thy felfewell when thou digrclfcft
from thy rule , Prcfcruc the rights
of thy place, but Birre not queftions
of lurifdiction : and rather aflume
thy right in filence and de faEio ^lYitn
voice it with claimes , and challen-
ges. Preferuelikewifc the rights
of inferiour Places; and thinke ic
more honour, todire(5lin chiefc,
then to be bufic in all . Imbracc
and inuite hclpes and intelligence ,
touchingthe executio ofthy place;
and do notdriue away fuch as bring
thee information , as medlers , but
accept.ofthemin good part. The
vices of authority are chiefly foure.
Delates^ CorrHfttons^ B^cughtjejfe ^

and

ESSAIES^
and Facility. For Dclaies^^-giuc
calieacccfle ; keepe times ajz^^ok-
ted ; go through with that whieh is
in hand , and interlace norbaiints,
but of necefl'icy.. For C(yrruption,
do not only bind thine own hands,
or thy Scruanrs^ handcs that may
take ; but bind the hands of^ them
that fiiould offer . ■ For iategritic
"^^cd doth the one , but integrity
profeffed, and with a manifeft de-
teftation of bribery ,doth the other.
And auoid not oncly the fault, but
the fufpition , Whofoeuer h found
variable and changcth manifeftjy,
without manifeftcaufe , giueih fuA
pition of corruption . A feruanc
or a fauouritc if he be inward , and
no other apparant caufe ofeftecme:
is commonly thought but a by-way.
For Roughnefle it is a needlcfle
caufe of dafcontent. Scucrity bree-
dcth f care, but roughnefle bre^'dcth :
hate. Euen rcproofcsfromautho- "
C 2 rity.

Of CreAt PUcef,
fity, ought CO be grauc and not tan«
ting, A s tor facility, it is worfc then
bribery ; for bribes come but now
and then, but if importunity , or
idle refpe^s lead a man , hce fhali
neuerbe w'nhout. As Salomoftfiizh;
To re^eSi per/ovs is not good ; fir
fuch a man wtU tr4fjfgrefc fir afiece
^^^ gfBread, It is moT^ true that was
^ / auncicntJy fpoken ; ^^ flace Jheweth
I the man : and it fhewcth fome to the
' better, and fonfre to the worfc. Om*
ftium^ coftfiftfu capax imperij nifiim^
ferajfet, faith Tacttus of Cjalha ; but
of Veff>afian he faith, Silusim^eran-^
, . tiUYfu Ve^afianm mutatm in meltw:

1^ Though the one was meant of fuffi-
Cfency, the other of manners and
affr(9ion . It is aflured figne of a
worthy and generous Spirit, whom
Honour amends. For honour is, or
fliould be the place of Vertne ; and
as in Nature things mooue Violent-
ly to their place; and calmely in

their

ESSAIES.
thcirplace ; To Vcrtuc in Ambition
is violent^ m Authority fcdcd and

calme^ v

p.O/Smpire.

TisamiferableStatc
of mind, to hiue few
thinges to defirCjand
many things to fcarc:
and yet;, that com*
monly is the cafe of
Kingcs ; who bccing at the highcft,
want matter of defire ; which
makes their mindcs the more Ian*
guifliing, and hauc many repre-
fentations of periiles and (had*
do w^jwbich makes their minds the
C 5 Icffc

leffcclf^erp » And this is one rea-
fon aJfoo^f? ^hat t^^di 5 ■ vvliich the
Scripture fpcalccth of; Th^it the
li-ngs heart is mfcrutahle ♦ For
multituxics ofiealQtjfics , and lackc
ofiome {>Wdomii>anc dtfirc, that
rhould tnarOiall and put io order all
thci-clVjmakcth any rr^ansija^^t hard
to find, or found . Hence comrncth
it like wife, that Pfince$*^many times
make themfelye? defires , and fee
^h^ic^cafts ypon toies ; fometimes
yppp a' 6!ii riding ; fpmctimes vpon
ai-| prdeiyfonietiirjcj^ Vpon the ad-
yabcfngof aperfoni ftjmetiiries vp-
on ql)tayriing excellency in fome
Art , or feate of the hand : and fuch
like things, v\hich feeine incredible
tprhofctViatknownorthc princi-
ple^ That the mivde ofmanismore
cheered eind refrepoedby ]>rofi[wg in
Jma. II th'wges , then by ft ending at a
flay in great , Therefore great and
fortunate Conquerors in tlieirfirft

ycarcs.

ESS AIES.
ycarcs, turne melancholy ; and fu-
perftitious in their latter, as did A»
lexander the great , and in pur me-
mory Charles the fitch," and many
Others ♦ For hee that is vfed to
goe forward , and findetb a (iop,
falleth out ofhis ownefaiiour . A ?-
true temper of^ouernment is a rare J^
thing .^: For both ternper and di*
fhmper conhft of • contraries .
But it is onething to mingle, con-
traries , another to interchange
them . Thcanfwere qi Apelomtis — (^
to f^efpafan is full ofexcellent in-
Hruwhon ... Veffajian. asked him,
what vpa6 Nerocs ouerthrow^hto.
anfwcred ; Nero could. inHch andtHne
the Harpewell'^ 'But tii gouernn^ent
fometimes hee vfed to wmde thefmr.es
tvo hye^ and fometimes to let them
dowaeto^lowe , And certaineitis,
that nothing deftroyeth authority
fo much,as the vncqual and vntime-
Jy interchange of prcfling power
C4 and

OfEmpire* /|

and relaxing po\\er. The wifcdome6
of all thefc latter times, in Princes
BfFaireSjis rather fine dcliucrics,
and fhiftings of daungers and mif-
chiefes ^Ahcn they are ncere, then
fohd and grounded courfcs to keep

1«— rhcm aloofe. But let men beware
how they negle»5t and fuffer matter
of trouble to bee prepared: for no
man can forbid the fparke, nor tell
whence it may come. The difRcuIt-
neflc in Princes bufTnclfc are manic
times great, but the greateft diffi-
culty, is often in their ownc minde.
Forit is common with Princei(i3ith
Tacitm) to will contradictories.
Sttntplerutij^ Regum^ VBluntates ve»
hementes , ^ tmerjt cv^trarta. For iC9
is the Sofcecifmc ofpowcr, to think
to commarnd the end, and yet not *

£^_to endure the meane . Prtnces are ^
like to theheaucnly bodies, which
caufe good or euill times ; and
which hauc much veneration, but

no

ESSAIES.
norclt.^ All precepts concerning
Kings, are in eflFrd comprehended
in thofe two reraembraccs.y^^wsf;?*
TO ijtiodes homOy «nd LMemcKto i^Hod
es Dens. ox Vice dei : 1 hr one to bri-
dle their power, and the other their
will.

3i@@gg^ ^^^M^^S^:i^^

lo.Of QomfeU.

S, He grcaterttruft be«=

cweene man, is the

truftofgiuing coun-
fel.For jn other con*

fidences men comit

le partes of their hfe, their Lands,
their poods,their chi!d,thcir credit;
fomc particulcr affaire . But to fuch
as they make their couiifellors, they
commit the whole ; by how much
the more they are obliged to all

Faith

Of Com felt.
fattb,and integricy. Hie vvifeft Prin*
CCS iicedc not ihinkc ir ar>y dimiiiu-t
tion to'their greatneffe, ordcrogar^
tionto their Jufficicncy, to rely vp^
on counlcll . God himielfc is not
v^'ichout; but hath made it one of
the greatnames of his bIclTed Son,
'the CoHnJellofir Salomon hath pro-
nounced ; that In Counjell ii fiabilU^
^.Things wdlhaue their firli or fe-
condagitauon; if iheyb^ not,tof-
(cA vpon the ArgMQif nt^bf counfel,
they will be toited vpon the waues
o{ fortune ^\ and be fui oflrrconT^an-^
cy, do in ^5 and vndoing, like the
reeliiig of a drunken man. Salomofis
SonfcjnndtheforcbofCounlell, as
h's Father favv the''riecefri.:y of ir.
Forthebeloucd Krngdoine of God.
wasfirft ren' & broiteii by ill Coun-
fell ; vpon which CoutiTcil there arc
fct for our 'in(T»U(^:on,..the two
markes , whereby badCoimfeli is
forcuer bcft diiccined, that it was
'• young

ESS A IE S.
young Gounfell ibr the petfon:s,9nd
violent counfcll for the matter. The
ancient timesdo let forth in figure,
both the incorporation, and irrepa-
rable coniun6lion of Couniell with
^/«^i?/ ; and the wife and poiliticks
vfe of Gounfell bv Kifjg^ f the one,
in that they fay lupirer did nfiarrie
2letts (which ligmheth (?-oUnfeII.)
So as Souera'ignety or Authority is
married to C<^un(eli . Theothcrin'
that which foiioweth ; which wa«
thus; Tk\ef (zy-QCtcY Iffpi:'^r was ma-^
ricd to MetiSj fhc cOnceiu'd by him,
and was'with child^but/^/^i/^rfufl-c-
red her not to iiay tilllhee brotJghc
forth, bateate her vp; whereby hq
became with child, aiid was achnc-
red of P«« to armed our of his-b^ead.
Which morftrous fable containcth
a fecret of Empire : How Kings nre
to make vfe of their Gounfell of
State. That fir^ they ought to refer
matters to them , which is the fiift

be-

QfCcmfei,
begetting , or imprrgnation ; but
V^'hf I, they are cbboratr, moulded,
and fnapcd in the Wonr^be of their
Cour.rcll,ard grow ripe, and ready
to be brought forth;that then they
fuffer not their Counrdl to goe tho-
ro\v,with the rcfolution and dircc-
tion,as if it depended on them; but
take the matter back into their o vi n
band, and make it appcare ro the
World, thap the decrees and finalj
dircw^tons f' which becaufe they
come forth vvith prudence, and po-
wer, are refembled to PalUt armed)
proceeded fom therarfelues : and
not onely f; om their authority, but
(the more to adde reputation to
themfflucs^from their head and de-
uice. The inconucnicnccs that hauc
bin noted in caiiing and vfing cotin-
fell, arc three. Firli, the reuealing of
affaires, vi hereby th«y become the
leffe^ccre. Secondly, the weak Ding
oftheauthoritic of Princes, as if

ihcy

ESSA2ES.
tlify wfcre Icflc of thcmreluejw
Thirdly, the daungcr of being vn-
faithfuUy counfcllcd and more for
the good of them that coimfcl, t hen
of him that is cotinfelled.For wh.ch
inconueniences , the Dod^rine of
Italic^ and praflifc of Fraunre^ hath
introduced CAbAnst Counfclsja ic-
rocdy worfcthcn the difeafe. But
for fecrecy, Princes are not bound
to communicate all matters withall
Counfcllours, but njay extract and
felec^. Neirhcr is it necc (Tarie , that
he that confulteth what hee fnould
doc; (hould declare what hee will
doe. But let PWwf/ beware thac
the vnfecrcting of their affaires
come notfiomthenr.le'ucs . Andos
for Cabanet Counfell , it may bee
their Afot, Plefttu rimArttnu f^.m.
One furilc perfon » that makeih it
his gloric to tell, will doc more
hurt, then many that k'low k their
dutie 10 conccalc . For weake-
ning

OfComfell. .
ningofauthoriryjthc tabic flievveth
the remedy ; neither was there euer
Prince bercaued of his dependan-
cesby his Counfell, except where
tneic hath becne either an ouer*
greatneflb in one, or an ouer-ftri(5t
combination in diuerfe ; forthclaft
inconueniencc chat men will coun-
leil w ich an eye to thcmfclues. Cer-
tainely , JVo-^i mucmet fidemj fuper:
terram, is meant of the Nature of;
times, and-not of allparticulcrper-''
Tons. TFhirebe thatareinnaturct
faithfull and tincere, and plainc,and".
dircd", not crafty and inuolued. Let
Princes aboue all, draw to themfelus
ibch natures. BeHdcSjCounfels are
not commonly fo vnited^ but that
one keepeth Sentinell oueranother.
But the beft remedy is , it Prmces
know their Councellors, as well as
their Counfellors know them, Vrin*
cipi^ eB virtm r/famma f^o^e/iigs. And
of&hc other fide, Counfellors fhold &

not

ISSAIES.
notbetooipetula luenuo their (o-^
U€raignes perion. The true compo-
fition of a Councelior , is rather to'
be skilfull intheir Mail^crs buhnes,
then in his imureiFor then hscis i
like to aduiicniin,andnot tofeede
hishuaior. Ids ^fiinguler vfcto
'Princes^ if they take the opinions of
their Counfcli, bothfcparatdy and
together. Forpriuatc opinion is
more free , but opinion before o-
thers, is nDorereucrent. In priuate, ;
men are more bold in their owne
humours; and in confort, men arc
more obnoxious to others humors*
Therefore it is good to take both,
andof the infcriour fort, rather ia
priuate to prcferue freedom ; of the
greater rather in confort , to pre-
lerue refpe^i. It is in vaine for Prin-
ces to talce Counfell concerning
matters : if ihey take no Counfcli
likevvife concerning perfoos.For all
matters are as dead Images^ arid the

hfe

OfCounftH,
life of the execution of affaires re-'
fteth in the good choyfc of peifons.
Neither is ic enough to confult con»
cerning perioos, Secundjim gtnera^
as in an Idea^ or Mathcmaticall de-
scription, what kinde of perfon
(houldbee; buc in Jndiuiduo: For
the greateft errours , and the grea»
tcft ludgementsarc fhcwed in the
choyce of InaiuidnAls , It was
trocJy {zidfiptmi Conjiliarif mortHU
Bookes v\i 1 fpeake plaine, when
Gounfelloors blanch . Therefore it
is good to bee conueiffant in them,
fpeciallyihe Books of iiich as them*
felucs haue becnc hdiOi% vpon the
Stage.

n. OJ T>ilpitch,

A

Ffe6^ed difpatch is one of the

moii dangerous things to bu,

rincfie

ESSAIES,
fincffethatcan be. Ic is like that
v^'hich the VhiptiaKs cal prc-digerti-
on,orha!Ty digcftion, vv'liichij fure
to fill the body Full of Crudities and
fecret fecdcs of difcaTes, Therefore
incafurenot Difpatchby the times
of litting, butby the aduancemenc
of the buHnclTe . It is the care of
fome onely to come off fpecdily for
the time, or to contriuefomc falfc
periods of bufinefle , bccaufe they
mayfeeme mcnof Difpatch. Butic
is one thing to make fhort by con-
trad^ing ; anocher by cutting off:
and bufincfle fo handled by peeces,
is commonly protrai^ed in the
whole, I knew a wife man had it for
a by-word , when he faw men ha-
ikn to a conclunon ; Stay a little
that wee may 7nake an end the fooner\
On the other fide, trueDifpatch is
a rich thing: For time is the mea-
fure of bufincfTe, as Money is of
Wares : and bufinefle is boughc
D at

OfDiff>Atch,
at a deare hand w here there is fmall
difpatch . Giue good hearing to
thofc that giue the firft infoimation
in bufinefle ; and rather diredt them
in the beginning , then interrupt
them in the continuance of their
fpeeches : For he that is put out of
his owne order , will goe forward,
and backwards , and be more tedi-
ous by parcels, then he could hauc
bin at once ♦ But fometimes it is
feene , that the moderator is rriore
troublefome, then the u45io?' . Ite-
rations are commonly loffe of time;
but there isnofuch gaineoftime,
as to iterate ofcen the ftatc of the
queftion.For it chafeth away many
a friuolous fpeech, as it is comming
forth. Long and curious fpeeches
are as fit for difpatch , as a Robe or
Mantle with a long traine , is for
lace. Prefaces, and paflagcs, and
cxcufations, and other fpeeches of
reference to the perfon , are great

walks

ISSAIES,
waftcs of time, and though they
fecme toproceede of modcRy,they
are braucry. Yet beware ofbe..
ing too materiallj when thereis a*
ny impediment, orobftru(5^ionin
mens will . For preoccupation
eucr requireth preface : like a fo-
mentation to make the vnguent en-
ter. Aboue all things, order and
diftribution is the life of Difpatch :
fo as the diftribution be not too
fubtill: For he that doth not diuide,
will neuer enter well into bufinefle;
and he that diuidevh coo much, will
ncuercomcoutofitclearely . To
chufe time,istolauet me , and an
vnfcafonable motion is bur beating
theayre. There be thtee parts of
bufincfle ; the preparation , the de-
bate, or examination, and the per-
fed^ion. Whercofifyoulookefor
Difpatch, letthe middle only be the
worke ot many - and the firft & laft
the workcoffew. The proceeding
D a vpon

OfLoue.^
Vpon fomC'What conceiued in wri-
ting, dooth for the moft part facili-
tate Difpatch. For though it fhould
be wholy relented, yet that Nega-
tucis more pregnant of a direction,
then an indefinite ; as Aflics are
more generatiue thcnduft.

n. Of Lout^.

l0ue\s the Argument
I alwaies of Comedies ,
and many times of Tr#i-
Igedtes, Which fhewcth
well, that it is a pafilon
generally light, andfomctimes ex-
trcame. Extreame it may well bee,
fince the fpeaking in a perpetual Hy^
ferlfsle, is comely in nothing, buc
Loue . Neither is it mccrely in the
phrafe. For whereas it hath bin well
faidc , that the jirch flatterer with

.whom

ESSj4IES,
^^fhomaIl the pccty^flatterers haue
intelligenccjis aMans fclfejCertain-
]y the louer is more . For there was
neucr proud man thought To ab^
furdly well of himfclfc, as the Louer
doth ofthe perfon loued : and ther-
fore it was well faide, that it is im,
poffible to loue,and to be wiie.Nei-
ther doth this weaknclTc appcare to
others only,and not to the party lo-
uedjbut to the loued moft of all,cx-
eeptthclouc be reciproque. Foric
is a true rule, that Loue is eucr re-
warded either with the reciproque,
or with an inward and fecrct con-
tempt. By how much the morc^men
ought to beware of this palTion,
which lofcth not only other things,
but it felfe , As for the other lodes,
the Poets relation doth well figure
them: That he that preferred Hip/r»
;?<«, quitted thcguiftes of /«»^and
TallxsJPov whofocuei-efteemeth too
much of amorous affedion, quit-
D 3 tcth

Of Lone,
teth both riches and VNifecJomc.
This paiTion hath his flouds in the
very times of wcakenefle ; Which
arc great projperity , and great ad-
ijerAiy,f though this latter hath bin
lefle obferucd.) Both which times
kindle Loue and make itmorefcr-
ucnt , and therefore n^cw it to bee
the Child of felly* They doe beft
that make this affection keepe quar-
ter, and fcuer it wholly from their
jferious affaires and actions ofthcir
life. For ifit checke once with bu-
(incflTc, ittroiiblcthMens fortunes,
and maketh Men , that rhcy can no
waiesbetrue to their owne endes»

M2r5ass?F2Mffi

T

3. Of Friendfloip.

Here is no greater Defcrt or
vvilderncfle then to bee vvith-

ouc

ESSAIES.
out true friendes . For without
Friendfhip, focietyis but meeting.
Andasitiscertaine, that in bodies
inanimatejvnion ftrcngthcneth any
natural! motion , and weakcncch
any violent motion ; So amongft
men, Friendrhip multiplyeth ioyes,
and diuidcthgricfes . Therefore
whofoeuer wanteth fortitude, let
him w'orfiiip Friend/hip ♦ For the
yoke ofFnevd/hip maketh the yoke .
of fer/«»f more light . There bee
fome whofc hues arc, as if they per-
petually plaid vpon a ftage , difgui'*
(ed to all others, open onely to the-
felues. But perpetuall difl'imulation
is paincfull; and he that is all For^
tu»ff, and no Nature ^is an exquifite
HierltHg . Liue not in continuall
fmother,but take fomc friends with
whom to communicate . It will vn*
fold thy vnderftanding; it wille-
uaporate thy affections ; it will pre-
pare thy bufinefle. A man may keep
D4 a

OfFrtendllif,
a corner ofliis mind from his frend,
and it.be buc to witncfTetobiimrelfe,
that it is not vpJon facility , but vpon
true vfeof fricndfhiprhat he impar-
teth himfclfe.Want or tiiic friends,
as It is the reward of perfidious na-
tures 5 fo is it an iippofition vppon
great fortunes . The one deferuc it,
the other cannot fcape it. And ther-
iForeir isgood to retaine finceritie,
and to put it into the reckoning of
Jlmhttton ^ that the higher one go-
eth, the fewer trueFiiends hefiiall
hauc . Perfef^ion of FriendOiip, is
but a fpeculation . It is friendfhip,
'v\'hena rrion c2n fay to himfelfe, I
loUe this man, without refpe6l of v-
tjl? y. I am open hearted to him, I
finglehim from the g&neiality of
thofe with whom I Hue;! make him
a portion ofmyowne v^ifhes.

H.O/

BSSAIES.

Ji^"^SL jK/^l. Ji!^5^1L 3^'^%.

i^^i^^

Si^>^:?w>j^.

14.. Of dJthetfme.

Had rather beleeucal
the fables in the L<?-
ffe?7d, and the v4/^^
r^.'/jthen that this v-
niucrfall frame is
without a mind. And
therefore God ncuer wrought my-
raclc to conuincc Atheilh, becaufc
his ordinary works conuince them.
Ccrtaincly , ^tliiiU phi io fop hie in-
clineth mans minde to Athetfme^
but depth in Philofophie ^ bringeth
men about to Religion ♦ For when
themindeof manlooketh vpon fe-
cond caiifes fcatcered, fometimes ic
rcilcth in them ; but when it bchol-
deth them confederate, and knit to-
gether

OfAtheifme.
gcthcr, itflyesto prouidcncc, and
Deitie , Mod of all,that Schoole
which ismol^ accufed of Atheifme
doth dcn;onftrate Religion.That is,
theSchooIeof Lcucifptu^ andD*?-
mocritm^ and Epcnrus , For it \s a
thoufand times more credible, that
fourc mutable Elements, and one
immurablc fifth Eficnce, duely and
eternally placed, neede noG OD ;
then that an Army of inBnite fmall
pordons or feeds vriplaccd, fhould
haueproduccd this order. and beau-
ty, without a diuine Marfliall. The
Scripture faith, The Fools hath faide
in hii hart^ there is r,o God. It is not
faid'cj The Took hath thought tnhis
heart. So as he rather faith it by rote
lo himfelfc, as that he would haue 5
then that he q^k\ throughly bcleeue
it, orbepcrfvvaded of it. For none
deny there is £ God, but thofc for
whom it rnaketh , that there were
no God. BpicuTHf is chsr^ed that he

V did

iSS AIES.

did but diflemblc for his credits
fake, when he atlirmcd ehere were
blefled natures, but fuch as enioyed
themlelues, without hauing lefpedl
to the gouernmcnt of the VVorld.
Wherin they fay, he d\d temporize,
though in fecrec, he thoupht, there
was no God . Butcertainelyhe is
traduced ; for his worde? are Noble
and Diuinc. No'/i Deos vnlgi negare
profanHrru ^ fed vtilgi oprntones Diji
applecare profanum , Plato could
haue (aid no more . And ahhough
hce had the confidence to deny the
adminii^ration ;he had not the po-
wer to detry the nature. The /^f^M/zj"
of the Weft, haue names for their
particuIarGods. though they haue
no name for God : as if the Hea-
thens fhould haue had the names.
Inciter, Jpollo^ Aiars^ Cyc. but not
the v,ord £)<?/«.• which (hevves yet
they haue the noeion , though not
the full extent . Sothat againft A-

thcilis.

Of Atheifme^
tfieif^Sjtbe moft barbarous Sauagcs,
take pare with the fubtillcl^ Philo-
fophcrs. They that deny a God, de-
ftroy mans Nobility. Forcercainc-
Jy, M..n is of kinnc to the Beafks
by his body ; and if bee be not af
kin to God by his Spirit, hce is a
bafc and Ignoble Creature* Itde-
ftroyes hkevvife magnanimity, and
therainngofhumanenarurc. For,
take an example of a Dogge, and
markevvhara gcnerofitie and cou-
rage he will pur on , when he findes
himfclfe maintained by a Man,
which to hirp, is in ftead of a God,
or iJMcliornatHra : Which courage
ismanifelljyfuch, as that Creature,
wuhout tha: conF.d'ncc ofa better
naturethen hi'j owne, could neuer
attaine. So manwhenhee refteth
and afiureth himfclfevppon Diuine
prored^ionandfauour ;gatheretha
force, and faith, which humane na-
ture in it fclfe could not obcaine,

There-

ESSAIES.

Therefore as Athsifme is in all rc-
{pedls hatefulhSo in this, thatic
depriueth humane nature of the
meancs to exalt it ielfe aboue hu-
mane frailty* As it is inparticii-
ler perfons j fo it is in Nations. Nc-
ucr was there fucha Scate forimg-
nanimitieas }{pme , Of this State,
hearc what Ocero faith ; Qnarruvo^
Inmw licet P« Conf, nos ^memtis, ta -
mennecnumero Hifp.itios^ nee robo>e
GallfiS, nee atlltditate Poenos, nee ar-
tihn6 Cjrecos^ mc denique hoc tpfo hft"
iw gentis (^terrd domeflico natiuo"
qtiefetifti Itdos fpfas ^ Lattnos ; fed
fietatey ac Reli^tone , atque hacV'*^
fafientia e^md Deorum tmmortalmm
Kumine omKta regi gnberriariqne
perifexmifUy cmyje^gentes^
Natiofjef^^ffipsra^

12- Of

mmMEEt^&m

iLOfSuperflition.

T were better to hauc
no opinion of God at
all; thenfuch an opini-
on as is vn'A'orthy of
him ; For the one is vn-
beliefe, the other is Contumely ; and
ccrtaincly Superl^icion is the rc-
prochof Deity . AthetffnelczucssL
Man to fenfe, to Philofophy, to na-
turall piety, to lawes, to reputation,
all which may be guides to vertuc,
though Religion were not; but fu-
perftition difmounts allthefe, and
creflcth an abfolute Tyranny in the
mindeofmen Therefore x^/^^'z/J;^
did neuer perturbe States ; for it
makes men wary of themfelues, as
looking no further : and vvc fee the

times

ESSAIES.
times inclined to AtheifinCi as the
i\mt o^ August PM Cafar, znd our
owne times in fomc Countries,
were, and arc, ciuill time's. Put Su-
pciftition,h«th beenethe coiifufi-
on of many States : and bringeth in
a new Trmum yiohiU that rauiil^eth
all the Spheres ofgouernmcnt. The
maifter of Supcrllition is the peo-
ple : and in all fnperftition , wife
men follow foolcs ; and arguments
are fitted to pra^^ife, in a reuerfed
order. There is no fuch Athcirt, as
anHypocrite, orlmpoftor rand it is
-il not pofllble, but where the gene-
rality is fupeil^itious , manyoftiic
leaders are Hypocrites. Thecaufes
o^ Atheifme are, diuifions in Reli-
gion ; fcandall of Priefls ; and lear*
ned rimes ;rpccially if profperous;
though for dcuifions, any one m jiiv
diul(ion,2ddeth zeale to both fides,
but many di^ifions inrroducc ^-
theifme, ThccaufesofSupernition

Of Stiperilitioyt,
arcthcpleaiing oFCeremonies;the
cxccfle of outward holincfle ; the
rcuercnce of traditions ; the Strata-
gems of Prelats for their owne am-
bition and lucre, and b^barous
timcSjfpccially with calaniities,and
difal^rs. Supcrflition without his
vaile,isa deformed thing, for as ic
addeth deformity to an Ape, to bee
^o hke a man : fo the fimilitude of
Supcrftition to ^^//^/<??/5 makes ic
the more deformed. Andaswholc-
fome mcate corrupteth to little
Wormes ; fo good formes and or-
ders»corrupt into a number ofpetty
obfcruances.

l6. Wifedonie for a

Mansfelfe,

"^AnteXsz wife Creature for
itfelfciBucuisa (hrew'd thing

in

BSSAIES.
in an Orchard or Gaiden. And cer-
tainely, men that are great louers
of themfc lues, waft the publikc. Di-
uidc with reafon betvveenc (t\{t'
loue, and focicty : and be fo true to
thyfclfe, as thou be not faifeto o-
thcrs. It is a poore Centre of a mans
alliens, Htmfelfe, It is right earth.
For that onely ftands faft vpon his
own center : v\here3s ail things that
haue affinity with the heauens,moue
vpon the Centre of another, which
they benefit. The referring of all to
amansfclfe, is more tollerablein a
Soueraigne Prince; becaufe them-
felues arenocthemfelucs^buc their
good and cuili is at the perill of the •'
publikc fortune.But ic is a defperate
euillin aScmiant to a Prince^ or a
Cittizen in zRefnhlike. For •^^hzz^
focuer affaires pnfTc Inch a Mans
hand, hee crooketh them to his
owneends: which muit needs bee
often Eccemrtke to the ends of his
E maiikr

Of fVifidomc, c^c,
mafterorltace . Therefore let Prin-
ces or States, chufcfuchSeruants,
as hauc not this marke ; except they
nicane their feruice Should be made
but the accefl'ary . And that which
makcth the effect more pernitious,
is, that all proportion it loft. Ic
were difproportion enough for the
Seruantsgoodtobce preferred be-
fore the mafters : But yet it is a grea
tcrextreame, when a little good of
theferuants , fliallcarricthingcsa-
gainft a great good of the mafters ♦
And yet that is the cafe ; for the
good fuch Seruants rccciue ; is after
the model! of their ownc fortune:
but the hurt thry fell for that good,
is after the modell of their Msftcrs
fortune » And ccrtai^ely it isthe
nature ofextreamefelfe-louers , as
they will fet an houfe on fire, and ic
were but to roft their Egges; and
yet thefe men mmy times hold cre-
dite with their Mafters i becaufe

their

tfieir ftudy is but to plcafe tHem,and
profit themfelucs ; and f )r cyther re-
fpec^ they will abandon the good
t)f their affaires.

ii^:^i^'^

fji^ .^ v»^C?^vj DJiS\

1 7. Of%eg\ment

of health.

Here is a wlfedome in
tbis,b'*yond the rules of
I Phtficke . A mans ownc
Obferuatioo 'hat bee
finds good of, and whac
he finds hurt of, is the bc{^ Phficke
to preferue health. But it is a later
conclufionrofay; thisagrecth not
\\'e]lwithmc. cherefor< I^Aillnoc
continue it ; then this, I find no of-
fence of this, therefore I may vfe
it: for (irengihof natuie in youth,
E a pafl'cth

OfReginttnt of Health,
paffctk oucr many cxccfles , wVi'ich
arc owing a man till his age . Dif-
cerne of the comming on of ycarcs:
and thinkc not to doe the fame
things ftill. Certainly moft lufty old
men catch their death by thacad-
uenture ^For age will not be de^Qd,
Beware of fuddcn change in any
grcatpointof dyet^andifncceiTitic
enforce it, fit the reft to it . Forjtjs
a fecret both in Nature and Stacc.,
that it is fafer to change many
"thi'ngSjthcn orve.Tobc free minded
and chearefuUiedifpofcd at houres
of mcate, and of fleepe, and of ex-
crcifc, is the beft precept of long
lifting. If youflyPhifickin health
ahogether^it will be too ftrange for
your bodie, when you fliallncede
it : if you make it too familiar , it
will workc no extraordinary effect,
when ficknefTc commeth . Defpife
no new accident in your body^ but
aske opinion of it . In ficknefTc

rcfpect

rcfpect Health principally, and in
Health action. For thofc that put
their bodies to endure in Health,
may in moft ficknefles , which are
not very fliarpe, bee cured onelic
with dyct and tendering. Celfu^
could neuer baue fpoken it as a Pbi-
(itian, had he not beene a wifeman
withail: whenheegiueth it for one
of the great precepts of Health and
lafting. That a man doe varryand
interchange contraries,but with an
inclination to the more benignc
cxtreame; vfe fafting and full ca-
tingjbuc rather full eating ; watch-
ing, and flcepe, but rather flecpe,
fitting and exercifcjbut ratherex-
ercifc, and the like . So Oiali nature •
be cherifiied,3nd yet taught mafte-
ries. Phifitians are fome of them fo
pleafing and conformable to the
humors of the patient ^as they prefle
not the true cure ofthedifeafe;and
forae other are fo regular, in pro-
E 3 ceeding

Of E-x^ences,
ceexlirg accorc)i;.g co art for the dif-
cafe, aa they relpcCi not fu fficientlic
the condition of the Patient. Take
one of a midcUc temper, or if it maj
not be found in one man, combine
two of both lOEis : and forget noc
to call as well the be(^ acouain'ed
with your body, as the bcii reputed
offor his faculty.

18. Ofcxpences^

Tches arefor (pending,
and fpending for ho-
nor and good adiions.
Therefoie cxtraordi-
ry Expence mi;^; be li-
mited by the worth of the occafion,
for voluntary v^doing may bee as
well for a mans Country* as for the

King^

ESS AlES.
Kingdomeof//^^//<f«. But ordinary
Expence, ought to bee limited by a
Mans cftate, and gouerned with
Tuch rcgard;as it be within his com-
pafle, and not fubiecl to deceit^and
abufe of Seruants ; and ordered to
the beft fhevv, that the Bils may be
lefTe then the eftimation abroad, Ic
is no bafcnefle for the grcatefl; to
defcend and looke into their owne
Efiates. Some foibetiicit not vpon
negligence alone, but doubting to
bring themfelues into melanchollie,
in relpc6l they fliall find it broken.
But wounds cannot be cured with-
out fearching. He that cannot look
into his owne eftatcatall,^ hadde
ncede both chufc well thole whom
he imployeth^and change them of-
ten: for new are more timorous^and
leffe fubtill. He that can looke into
his e(iate but fildome, had necde
turne all to certainties . Inclcering
of a mans Eftate, hee may as well
E 4 hurt

burthimfelfe in being too fuddain,
as in letting it run onroolon<z. For
haflyfcHingis commonly asciifad-
iiantageableas interefr. BefidcSjhe
that clearcs at once will relapfc :for
finding himfelfe Out of (traights, he
will reuert tohiscuftomcs. Buthee
that clearethby degrees, induceth
an habite offrugaiicy, andgaineth
as well vpon his ininde, as vpon his
Eftate. Ccrtaincly who hatha
State to repaire, may not defpife
fmallthinoes : and commonlie it is
lefTcdifhoncrable to abridge pettie
charges, then to ftoopc to pettie
settings. A man ought warily to
begin charges, which once begun,
muft continue. But in matters that
returne not, he may be more
magnificent.

ip. 0/

ESS AIES.

ip, Oj T)ifcourfe.

wri,<\^-;-:.^>.! Gmemdieir difcourfe,
^^^^~1^^ Genre rsther commen-
^! ^j^. dstion of 'A'itjin being
^:^^^c^ able to hold all Ar^u-

*^— ^ "-i— -^ ments, then or ludgc-

nient in difcerr.ing what is true; as
if it were a praife to know what
might befaid, and not what fliould
be thought . Some haue ccrtaine
common places, and Theames
wherein they are good, and want
vavictic : which kind ofpouertyis
forthemoft part tedious, and now
and then ridiculous. The honoura-
blellkind oftalke, isto<;iuethe oc-
cafion, and againe to moderate and
pafTcto fomewhar tlk , It is good
to varry 3 and mixc fpcech of the

prcfen;

Of Difcenrfe.
prefent occafion vvich argument?
tales with reafons; asking ofquefti-
ons, with telling ofopinions : and
iefi vvitheariiciK Butfome things
are priuiledgcd fromiefl, namely
Religion, matters ofState, great
perfons, any mans prefent bufincde
of importance, and any cafe that dc-
ferueth pitty ; and generally men
ought to finde the difference be-
tweene faltneiTc and bitternefle .
Certainely he that hath a Satyricall
vaine,ashc make-th others afraid of
his wit , fo hee had neede be afraid
oforhcrs memory. Hcthatquefli-
oneth much fiialilearne much, and
content much : Ipecially if he apply
his qucftions to the skill of the per-
fons of whom he asketh : For hee
Oiall giue them occafion to pleafe
themfelues in fpcaking, and himfelf
fhal continually gather knowledge*
If you diOemblc fome-times your
knowledge of that you arc thought

to

ESSAIES,
tol:novv,you rhalibe thought ano-
iher time to know that you know
not. Speech ofa mans i'elfr is not:
good oUen , and thc-e is but one
c:^(t v« h^Mf m a man may cotnmend
himf'^lfs with good grace^ & that \s
in commejiding verrue in rinother,
efpcciaily, ifitbcc fi'.cha vcrtue, as
Vvhcrc*vnto hitpfclfe pretcndcth ,
Speech of touch toward others,
fliould be Iparintjly vred;for Dif-
courfe ought to be as a field, with-
out comming home to any man .
Dillretion of fpeechis more then
eloq-ientc ; and to ipeake agrcabjy
to him v\iih whom we deale,!S more
then to ipeake in good words, or in
good order. A good cc, tinued
ipcech without a gcodfpeech of in-
terlocution , rheweih (lowneflc :
and a good reply, or (^co[^6 fpcech,
without a good fctled fpecchjl^.ew-
cth rhallowneiTe and weakencfr.-
as wee lee in Beaftcs, that thofe

that

VJ Seeming votje,
that areweakeft in the cour/e, are
yet nimbleft in the rurrie.To vfe too
many circumftanccs ere one come
lo ihc matter, is AvearifoiTic ; to vie
none at al, is blunt.

^^i'^Ql

'W^'

2o» Of Seeming

wife.

T hath been an opi-
nion, that the French
are vvifer then they
ieerne,and the Spani--
ards fccme v. ifcr then
they are: But hovvfoeucr itbcebe-
twecnc Nations, ccrtalncly it is fo
bctweene Man and Man. For as the
Apo (tie faith of God/wejfe : Haumg
afl?erp of Godiwejfej hut denying the
jfovper thereof 'y So certainely there

arc

ESSAIES.
^re in point of WifeJomeand M^-^
ciency, that doc nothing or little
very folecnnly ; OHagria conAtunu^
ga4 , It is a ridiculous thing, and
Htfar a Satyre to pevfons of ludgc-
ments, to fee what fliifts thefe t'or-
iTialifts hauc, and what perfpecciues
to make Superficies to feemebodie,
thathath depth and bulk. Some arc
fo clofe and referued , as they will
not (hew thcirWares/outbyadark
light; and feeme alv\/aies to keepc
backe fomewhat ; and when they
know within themfelues, they fpeak
of that they doe not well know;
would neuerthelefle feem to others,
to know of that which they may not
well fpeake : Some helpc them-
felues wi:h countenance & gcfturc,
and are wife by hgnes , as Cicero
faith of Pifi, that when hcanfwe-
redhim,he fetched one of his brows
vppeto his forehead , and bentthe
other downe to his Chin iReJporjdes*

Of Seeming wife,
after 0 adfe'^nerru ftibUto^ altera ad
menterru defre,ffo [uperctlio^ crvtdilt^
iatem^tibtnon j>Ucere,Sov[\Q thinke
tobearitby fpeaking a grtac word,
and being peremptory, and will goe
on and take by admittance thac
which they cannot make good.
Some, whatfoeuer is beyond their
reach, they will feeme to de^pifeor
iTiake light of,as impertinent or cu-
rious; and io would haue the r Z^-
norance fceme iudgement. Some are
ncuer without a difference, and
commonly by amufing men wiiha
fuhtilty, blanch he matter. Of who
GelltPU iajth J Hom'ne-tTLj dehrum qui
*verhoYtim^ mwtttijs rerunu fatjgtt
pander a » Ofvvhic h kmd 2\(o^VUto in
\\\s Protagoras bringeih \r\ ProdicfU
infcorne, ard maketh him make a
fpccch that confifteth of diliincri-
ons from the beginning to the end ,
Generally, Inch men in all delibera*
lions, finde cafe to be of the Nega-

Ciue

ESSAIES.
tiue fide, and affect a credit to ob<.
iect and fore-tell difficulties. For
whcnproporcions are dcnyed, there
is an end oftheni,but if they be al-
lowed, it requireth a new workc;
which falle point of wifedomc , is
the baneofbufinede. To conclude,
there is no decaying Merchant , or
inward Begger, hath fo roany tricks
to vphoLd the credit oftheir wealth,
as thcfe emptie pcrlons haue to
maintaine the credit of their fuffici-
ency.

Cannot cal Riches bet-
ter then the baggage
of Vcrtue ; the Roman
word is better, Iwpedt-
mcnta ; For as the bag*»

Of Riches,
^?igc is to an Army , lo is Riches to
Vcrtuq: It cannot bcc fpared, nor
Icfcbehinde ; but it hindreth the
March, yea, and the care of it fom-
times lofeth or dirturbeth the victo-
ry. Of great Riches there is no reall
vie, except it be in the difJributicn :
the rei^ is but conceit . So faith Sa^
lomon ; where much tSythere are many
to cciifume it: and what hath the owner
but the fghtof it with his eyes f The
perfonaifruition in any man, cannot
reach to fecle great richcs^therc is a .
cuftody of them;or a power o^Dole
and donatiuc of them ; or a fame of
the;butnofoIidevfe to the owner.
Doe you not fee what fained prizes
are fet vpon little ftones,6: rarieries,
&v\i;at works of oOcntation are vn-
dertakcn, becaufe there might fcem.j
to be fome vfe ofgrcat Riches,? But
then they may be of vfe to buy men
out of dangers or troubles : ^sSa*
lomon fai?h ; Riches are asa firong-

hdi

ESSAIES.
holdc in the imagwatiott of the Rich
Man, But this is excellently expref-
fcd, that it \s'm Imagination'^ and
iiot alwaies in h^ . For certainclic,
great Riches haue fold more Men
then they haue bought out. Secke
not proud Riches ; but ftich as thou
maifi get iu(ily ; vfe fobcrly, diftri-
butecheercfuily,and leaue conten-
tedly .Yet haue noabftra6t,nor frier
]y contempt of them. But diftin-
guifti,as Cicero faith well of ^^^z-
rim Po^htintHS : In ftHdt§ ret amp/i"
Jicanda.appareifatnon aaartttd pr£^
darru fed inUrHmenttirru bonitati
^H<cri . Neither truft thou much
others, thatfceme to dcfpife them :
For they dcfpife them that difpairc
ofthcm, and none worffe, when
they come to them . Be not pcn-
ny-wife j Riches haue Wings ; and
fomccimes they fly away of them-
felues;fometimes they mutt be fee
flyingjto bring in more. Men leauc
F their

Of Riches.
their richesjcythci to their kindred,
or to the publikc ; and moderate
portions profperbeft in both. A
great ftate left to an Hcire, is as a
lUre to all the birds of prey round a-
bout, to (cize on him , if hee be not
the better ftabliflied in yearcs and
iudgement . Likewife glorious
guifts and foundations, arc but the
painted Sepulchres of ^/«;^/,w'hich
foonc will putrifieand corrupt in-
wardly • Therefore meafure not
thy aduanccments by quantity, but
frame them by meafure ;and defer
not charities, till death : for certain-
ly, if a man weigh it rightly, he that
doth lo, IS rather libcrall of another
mans,then of his owne.

22. Of(tAmbition.

M^ittofs is like choUer ; which

.is an humor that makcth men

a<^iue.

ESSAIES.
a6^iuc, carncft , full of alacrity, an<r
ftirring , it it be not flopped ♦ But
ifit bee flopped , and cannot haue
his way, it becommcth aduft , and
thereby malignc and venomous:
So ambitious men, if thev finde the
way open for their rifing, and flill
get forward; they are rather bufic
then dangerous : but if they bee
checked in their defires, they be-
come fecrctly difcontent,and looke
vponjnen and matters , with an e-
uill eye , and are beft pleafed when
things goe back^.ard : which is the
worfl property thatcgn be inafer-
iiant of KPrifiCe, or State* Therfore
it is good for Princes, if they vfe
ambitious fnen,tohaniile it lo, as
they be ftill progreflRue) and not re-
trograde .• which becaufe it cannot
be without inconiienience ; it is
good not to vfe fuch natures at all.
For ifthcy rife not with their fer-
uice, they will take order to make
F 2 their

their fcruice fall with them. Of Am-
bitions, it is the lefle harmcfull, the
Ambitio to prcuailc in great things;
then that other to appeare in cuerie
thing : For that breeds confu(ion,&
marrcs bttHncflfe. He that feeketh to
be eminent amongft able men,hath
a great laske: but that is euergood
forthepublikc. But he that plots to
be the only figure amongft Ciphers,
is the decay of an whole Age. Ho-
nourhaththree thingesin it; The
vantage ground to doe good ; The
approach to Kinges and principall
perfons ; And the raifing of a mans
owne Fortunes . Hee that hath the
beft ofthefe intentions when he af-
pireth, is anhoneft man ; and that
Prince that can difcerne ofthefe in-
tentions in another that afpireth, is
a wife Prince. Generally,Iet Princes
and States chufe fuch Minifters , as
arc more fenfible of duty, then of
rifin»g; and fuch as louc bufineflc

rather

ESSAIES.
rather vpon confcicnce, then vpon
brauery : and let them difcerne a
bufie nature, from a willing mind.

23* 0] Young ^^5M[en

And Age.

Man that is young in
yeares, may bee old in
bourcs;if hechaue loft

BO time. But that hap-

pcnct.i raiely. Generally youthis
like the firft cogitations,not fo wife
as the fecond : For there is a Youth
in thoughts 9 as well as in Ages.
Natures that haue much heate, and
great and violent defires and per-
turbations, are not ripe forJac-
tion , till they hauei paficd the
Meridian of their yeares : but re-
pofcd Natures may doc well in
Youth: as on the other fide, heate
F 3 and

Of Tomgmen^^c,
and viuacityin age is an excellent
' compoficion forbuiincfTe . Tonng
men are fitter to inuent,tbe to iudg ;
fitter for execution then for Coun-
cell; and fitter for new proie6^s,
then for fetled bufineflc . For the
experience of Age in thinges thac
fall within the compafle otit, di-
re6teth them .• but in things meere-
ly new,abufeth them • The er-
rors of young men are the ruine of
bufinefle: But the crrours of aged
men, amount but to this ; thac more
might hauc beene done, orfoo-
ner . Young men in the condu6b
and manage of Ai^ions , embrace
more then they can hold , ftirre
more then they can quiet , flye to
the endjuithout confideration of
the meancs and degrees , purfuc
fome few principles , which chcy
haue chanced vpon abfurdly, care
not to innouate , which drawcs
vnknowne inconucnienccs ; vfcex-

treamc

ESSAIES.
trcamc remedies at firft : and that
which doubleth all errors , will noc
acknowledge nor rctradl them ;
like an vnready HorfTe , that will
neither ftoppc nor turne • Men
of age , obiecttoo much, confult
too Jong, aduenture too little , re*
pent too foone , and feldome driuc
bufincflc home to the full period;
but content thcmfelueswith a me-
diocrity of fuccciTe . Certainly
it is good to compound imploy-
ments of both : for that will bee
good for the prcient; becaufe the
vcrtucsof cyther Age may correct
the defects of both; and good for
fucceflion, that young men maybe
learners , while men in age are Ac-
tors; and laftly, in refpeilof ex-
treame accidents, becaufe authori-
ty followcth old men , and fauour
and popularity youth. But for the
morral partrperhaps youth wil haue
thcpreheminence , as age hath for
F4 the

OfBeapity.
the Politike. A certaine J\khhy vpoi)
the Text, Tour Toung tJMen p^allfee
XJijions , and your Olde (Jlisn fiall
dre-fime Dreames : inferrcth, rhat
young mm arc admitted ncererto
God then Old, becaufc Vifionis a
cIcererReuclation, thenaDreame.
And ccrtainly,thc more a man drin-
keth of the World, the more it in-
toxicatcth ;and Age doth profit ra-
ther in the powers of vndc rftan-
ding, then in the vertues of the will
and affections.

24. Of "beauty,

VErtL'e'?Hkea nchftopic, befl:
plain fei izr-d, furely veitue is
beft fetin a body that is come-
ly, though not of d( locate fea-
tures ; and that hath rather dig-
nity of prefencc, then Beauty of re-
fpecr. Neither is it almoii fcen, that
very beautiful perfons are oiherwifc
of great vertue; as if nature were
rather bufie not to crrc, chen in la-

ESSAIE\S.
bour to produce excellency , And
therefore they prone accomplifhed,
but not of ^rcar Spine; andlhjcie
rathcrbehauiour thenverruc. In
Beauty y that of fauour is more then
that of colour; and that of decent
and gratious mocion , more then
that of fauor. Than is the bert part of
beauty which a Pi6lure cannot ex-
prcfleino northcfiift light of the
Jifc :&tkcrc is no excellent beauty,
that hath notfome llrangencs in the
proportions. Aman cannot tell
whether u^pelies or Alhert Dttrere
v.-ere the moreTriflcr. Whereof
the one would make a perfonagc
by Geomctricall proportions, the
other, by taking the beR parte*
out of diucrs faces, to make one
excellent. Such pei fonages 1 thinkc
would pleafe no body but the Pain-
ter that made them. Not but I
thinkea Pinter may make a better
Face then cuer was : but hcc muft

do

OfBeamj,
do it by a kind of felicity (as a Mu-
(itianthatmakcthan excellent ayrc
in Mnpcke) and not by rule. Ifit be
true that the principal part of Beau-
ty is in decent motion; ccrtainclic
it is no maruell, though perfons in
yeares feemc many times more ami-
able , 7'Hlchrorfim^ Autumnu^ puU
cher , For no youth can be comelie,
but by pardon, and confidcring the
youth, as to make vp thccomlincs.
Beauty is as Summer Fruits, which
arc cafiC to corrupt, and cannot laft:
and for the moft part,it makes a dif-
folute youth, and an age a little out
of countenance : Butyetcertainely
againe, ifit light well, it maketh
rertucs fliine, and vices blufli.

Z"^. Of Deformity.

D

E formed perfons arc common-
ly €uen with nature: for as na-
ture

ESSAIES.

cure hath done ill by them, fo dot
they by Nature, being for the moft
part (as the Scripture faith) voide of
natural! affe6^ion ; and fothcyhauc
their reuenge of Nature. Certainly,
there is aconfcntbctweenc the bo-
dy and the mind, and where nature
crreth in the one ; fhce ventureth in
the other. ZJifipeccat in vno priclU
tatHrinaltero , But bccaufe there is
in man an election touching the
frame of his minde, and a neceflfitie
in the frame of his body; the Stars
of naturall inclination, are fomc-
times obfcured by the Sunne of did
cipline and vertue. Therefore it is
good toconfidcr ofDeformity,not
asafigne, which is more deceiuca-
ble*,butasa caufe, which feldomc
failcth of the effedt . Whofoeuer
hath any thing fixed in his perfon,
that doth induce contempt ; hath al-
fo a pcrpetuall Spurre in himfelfe, to
rcfcuc and dcliuer himfelfe from

fcorne.

'--Y

Of Deformity.
fcorne Therefore all dcformedpcr*
fons arc extreame bold:firil,as in
their owne defence, as being expo-
fed to fcorne ; but in proccfle of
time, by a generall habitc. Alfo, it
llitrefh in them induHry, and fpeci-
ally of this kind, to watch and ob-
ferue the vvcakenede of others, that
they may haue fomcwhatto repay,
^j^^aine, in their fupcriours, it quen-
chcth icloufie towards them^as per-
fons that they thmkc they may at
plcafuredefpife ; and it laycth cheir
competitors and emulators afleepe;
asneuerbeleeoing they fhouldbec
in poflibility of aduanccment , till
they fee them in pofl'efTion . So that
vppon the whole matter, in a great
wit. Deformity is an aduantage to
rifing. Kings in ancient times, and
at this prefent in fome Countries
were wont to put great trull: in Eu-
nuches ; becaufe they that arc enui-
ous towards al,arc more obnoxious

and

ESSJIES,
and officious towards one ♦ But yet
their truft to wards thciDjhath rather
bcencas to good fpials , and good
whifperers; then good Magi(^rats^
suid Officers. And much Jikejs the
reafon ofdcformed perfons.Stil the
ground is^thcy wil, ifthcy bcotTpi-
rit, fcekcto free thenr^fehies from
Icornc: which muft be either by vcr-
tuc,orraallice; and therefore they
prooueeythcr the beft of men, or
the worft, or Itrangclie mist d.

mmmmmm^

l6. Of ^A(ature

in Men.

Aturc is often hid-
den, fom crimes ouer-
[come; (ildome cxtia-
I guifhed. Force makeih
^'Nature more violent
ia

Of Nature in T\ien,
in the returnc ; Do(5^rine and dif-
cout-fe maketh Nature Icfle impor-
tune ; but cuf^ome onely doih alter
and fubdue Nature. He that fecketh
victory ouer his Nacure^Ict him not
fet hirafelfcto great, norto fmall
taskes. For the firft will make him
deic(ftcd by often foiles ; and the
fecond will make him a fmall pro-
cecdcrjthoughby often prcuailingSo
And at the firrt let him praclifc with
helps, as Swimmers doe with Blad-
ders, or Ruflies : but after a time let
him prad^ife with difaduantages,as
Dauncers doc with thicke fhooes.
For it breeds great perfc^^ion, if the
Pradife bee harder then the vfe.
Where nature is mighty, and there-
fore the vi6lory hard ; the degrees
had neede be, firrt to ftay and arrcft
Nature m time: like to him that
>A'ould fay oucr the foure and twen-
ty Letters when he was angry, then
togoeieflein quantitic ; asif one

fliould

ESSAIES.

fhould in forbearing Wine, come
from drinking healttis, to a draught
anieale;and laftly, to dirconrinuc
altogether. But if a man hauc the
fortitude & reloiutionto intranchife
himlclfe at once, that is the bcft ;

Oftimtu ille anim't vindex Udentia

VincnU e^ui rupit^ dedolmtqtdefemel.

Neither is the ancient rule amiflcjto
bend nature as a wand, to a contra-
ry cxtreaiT), whereby to fet it right ;
vnderrtanding it, where the contra-
ry extream is no vice. Let not a Man
forceahabite vpon hnnfelfe wicha
perpetual! continuance, but with
fome intermidion . For both the
paufcre-inforccth the newon-fet;
and if a man that is not pcrfe£l be c-
uerinpract!re,hcrhall aswellpri^c-
tilehis errours,3s his abihties and
induce one habitc of both : and

there

Of Nature in Men,
there is no meancs to helpe this.buc
by reafonable interrniflions, A mans
nature is belt pcrceiued in priuatc-
nefle , for there is no affectation
in paffion, for that putteth a man
our of his precepts ; and in a new
cafe, or expeiiment, for there cu-
Itome leaucth him. They arc happic
men, whofe Natures fort with their
vocstions, other wife they may fay,
J^tiltnm^ incola fuit amma mea^
wiientheyconuerfe in thofe things
they do not affect. In fJudies what-
focuer a man commaundcth vpon
hfmlelfe, let him fet houres for it.
But whitfoeucr is agreeeble to his
Nature, let him take no care for any
fet times ; For his thoughts will fly
to it of thcmfelues ; {o as the fpaces
of other bufineffe or ftudics will fuf-
ficev

27.0/

ly. Of Cuflome and

Educjition.

Ens thoughts arc much
according to their incli-
nation ; their difcourfc
and fpcechcs according
to their learning, ardin^ufed opi-
nions; But chcir deeds are afieras
they haue bin accuflomcd . And
therefore as Mdcht.iuel \nc\\ noceth,
(tiiugh in an cuil fauored inlbnce^
there is no trufting to the force
of Nature; nor to the brauerie of
words ; except it be corroborate by
cuftomc. His in(hncc is,that for the
atchjcuingofa defperat confpiracy
amanfhold not^crtvpon thefi-rcc-
ncs ofany mans nature, or his r<"fo-
lutcvndcrtakings , but takeJucha
G one as

Of Cuflome. &c.
as hath had his hands formerly in
blood . But Machiauelkntvj not
ofa Fucr ClemefJt , nor a Rauillac^
r\oi^IaureciPiy , nora Baltaz^ar Ge-
rard. Yet his rule holdeth ftill,
that nature, northeingagement of
words arc not fo forcible as cuftom.
Oncly Supcrflition is now fo well
aduancedjthat men ofthc firft bloud
arc as firmc , as Butchers by occu-
pation : and votarie refolution is
made equipollent to cuftome , e-
iien in matter of bloud. In other
things the predominancy of cuftom
is cuery where viable; info much
as a man would wonder to heare
men profefle, protcft, ingage, giuc
great words, and then doc luft , as
they haue done before :as if they
were dead Images and Engins mo-
ucd only by the whceles ofcuftom.
Therefore fince cu(^ome is the prin-
cipall Magiftrate of mans life : lec
men by all mcanes cndeauour to

obtainc

BSSAIES.

obtainc good Cuftomcs. Certainly
Cuftome is moft perfedl when it
beginneth in young yceres . This
we call Education : which is nothing
but an early Cultoine. For it is true,
that late learners cannot fo well
take the plie; except it be in fgj-ne
mindes, that haue not fuffcredthe^
felucstofixe, but hauc kept them-
lelues open and prepared to rcceiue
continuall amendment ; which is
exceeding rare . But if the force of
Cuftome fimple, andfeperate bee
great; the force of Cuftome copu-
late and conioind, and in troupe, is
far greater. For their example tea-
cheth ; company comforseth ; aemu-
lation qiiickneth ; Glory raifeth ; fo
asinfuch places the force of Cu-
ftome is in his exaltation. Certainly
the great multiplication of Vcrtues
vpon humainc nature, reftcth vpon
focieties well ordained and Difci-
plined. For Commonwealthes and
G 2 good

Of Tortme.
good gouernmentSjdo nourifh vcr*
tac grownc, but do not mend tbc
feeds . But the mifcry i':, that the
moft cfFcd^uallmcanes arc now ap-
plied to the ends Icaft to be de{irc;_d,

28. Of Fortune^

T cannot bedenyed,
but outward acci-
dents conduce much
to a mans Fortune.
Fauour , Oponuoc
Death of others ; occafion fitting
vertuc. Butchiefely the mould ot a
Mans fortune is in himfclfe. And the
moft frequent of externall caufes is,
that the folly of one man is the For-
tune ofanothcr.Forno man profpers
fofuddenly , as by others errours.
Serf ens mft jerfentenu cemederit non

ESSAIES.
fit Draco, Ouert,andapparantvcr-
tucs bring forth praife, but there be
hidden and fccret vertues that bring
forth Fortune . Certainc dehuerics
of a mans fclfc, which haue no
name • The Spanifh word Defem^
boltnrit partly exprcfleth them, when
there bee noftonds nor retluenclic
in a mans Nature . For fo fauh
hitite well, after hee had defcribed
Cato Maior in thefc vvordci ; In tllo
viro t^ntHYTLj Yohnr corporis & animi
fmty vt quocunt^ loco natm ejjet for^
tunam fibiffi.cburn4 videretftr:Hc fal-
leth vpon thac,that he had Verfatile
'/?3geKtnm^.Thcxc^oi[c if a man looke
fharply and 3ccentiucly,he fhall fee
fortune ; for thogh (lie be blind, ycc
flic is not inuifible.The way of for-
tune is like the inilken way in the
sky, which is a meeting, or knot of
a number of fmall Starres ; noc
feen afunder^buc giuing light toge-
ther. So arc there a number of iittlc
G g and

Of Fortune,
and icarcedircernedvertucs, or ra-
ther tacoltics and Cuftoipcs , that
make men fortunate . The Italta^js
. noccfomc of them, fuch as a man
would little thmkc , when they
fpcake of one that cannot doe a-
iTjifle, they v.'ill throw in into his o-
iher conditions, that be \\^\\:\Poco
dtmattQ, And certaint)', there bee
noctvvo more fortunate properties;,
then tohsue a little of the foole,
and not too much of the honeft.
Therefore cxtrcamc loucrs of their
Country, orMaiHcrs , were neuer
fortunate, neither can they bee. Fof
when a man placeth his tiioughts
without himfclfc , hee gocth not
his owne way . An hafty fortune
maketh an enterpriler and remouer;
(^the Trefjch hath it better Interpe-
nant^ ot Ke?nfiaut) hut the exerci-
fed fortune maketh the able man.
Fortune is to be honoured and re-
fpec^ed,and it be but for her daugh-
ters.

ESS AIES.
ters^ Confidefjce and ^ffitathn ; for
thofc two felicity brecdethrthcfirft,
within a mans lelfc ; the later, in o-
thcrs towards him . All wife men
to decline iheEnuy oftheir ownc
vertueSjVfe toafcribe themtopro-
uidcnce, and Fortune. For fo they
may thebetterafllime them . And
befides, it is greatncfTe in a man to
be the care of the higher powers.
And it hath beene noted, thatthofc
that afcribe openly too much to
their owne wifcdomc and policy,
end infortunate . It is written,
that Timothetts the Athenian , after
he had in the account he gaue to
theftaceofhis gouernment, often
interlaced this fpeech : ^yind. in this.^
Fortune had no -part ; ncuer pros-
pered in any thing he vn-
dcrtooke after-
wards.

G4 Of

iW^'

29. Gf Studies.

Tudies . feme for Dc-
'ightjfoi Orrair.ent, &:
for Ability ; their chicfe
vfc for dclight,is in pri«
tiarcne(rr_,and retiring:
for Ornarricnr, is in difcourl'c, and
for Ability, is in icdgcmf nc . For
expert men can cxccute^but learned
men arc fictdlro iiidge orccnfurc.
To fpcnd too niucii time in them, is
Slofh ; to vfe rr^en) tos much for or-
namentjis ^ffeElation.xGw.^kt iudg
mcnt wholly^ ytScir rules , is the
fJttmoY of a Scholkr , They perfc^l
Ndture^ and are perfe6^ed by Ex-
perience. Crafty men coniemne
rhem, Simple men admire them, and
wik men vfe them , For they teach

not

ESS AlES.
not their ownc vfc , but that is a
wiledomcwithnut them and abo c
thcITl,^A•o')by obieruatio!!. Read
not to contradict, nor to belceuc,
but to weigh vi.nd confider. Some
Bookes art- to bcc tailed, others to
be Ivvallovved, and feme Few to bee
chewed and digefted. That Is, lome
Bookes are to be read only in parts ;
Other to be read, but not curKjufly ;
end Ibmc few to be read wholy, ar d
withdllligcnce and attention. Rea-
ding maketh a ful man, Conference
a ready man, and writing an exac't
Man . And therefore if a rnan
Write little, hechad neede haue a
great memory ; if nee conferre ht-
tlc, hee had neede haue a prefent
wit; and if hee read little, he had
ncedehaue much cunning, to fecmc
to know that he doth not. Hiftoy;cs
m-ike men wife, Voets wittie , t;-.c
Af'-ithtrnatickes fnbtill, Naturdl
rbi^ofoj)hte deepe, OliGrai! Grauc,

Of Stuaies,
Logicke and Rhetortckc able to con-
xcv)(\.Aheur}t fiudiainmores. Nay,
ihcreisno Rond or impedjmcntm j
the wit, but may bsev^rought out
by fit Studies : like as dilcafcs of the
body may be appropriate cxcrcifes.
Bowling ss good for the Stone and
Raines; Shooting lor the Lunges
and Bread; gentle walking for the
ilioniacke ; riding for the head ; and
the like. Soifamans witbc wande- ^j
ring, let him ftudy the Mathema-
ticks ; if his wit be not apt to diftin-
guidi, or finde difference, let him
i>udy the Schoole-men ; if it be not
apt to beat ouermatters,and to find
out resemblances, let him ftudy
Lawyers cafes. So cuery defect
of the mind may haue
'fpeciallreceit,

300/

ESSAIES.

30, Of Qeremohies

?^Ethat isonclyrcall,
2lhad nccde haue ex-

^ ,|/'cecding oieat parts

/Hv 1^?^ ^1' ^^ Vcitue : as the
\m^^ tCv ftone had neede to
'^^^^'^^^^^ bee rich that is fet
vvithoutfoile. But commonly it is^
in praifc, as it is in game: For as the
Prouerbeis true, That light gaines
make heauy Purfes , becaufc tiicy
come thickc, whereas great come,
butnowandthen :roitistruc, that
fmal matters win great commenda-.
tion, becaufc they are continunllie
invfcjandinnote , Whereas the
occalion of any great vcrtuc, com-

mcth

Of Ceremonies and RefpeUs .
mcth biu on holic dales. To attaine
good formes, it fufriccth not co dif-
pii'e them : for To (hal a man oblcrtie
th?iT» in orhers : And let hun tru/i
himfc'Ifi^ vvjfh the ie(KFoi' ifhecarc
lo cxpreiTethem,hc fiiall ipfc their
grace, which is tc bee nat'urall and
V!jafFe'3cd, Some mens behauioyr is
like 3 vcrfryvvhcrcin eucry fillablc is
mcafured ; how can a man compre-
hend great matters , that breaketh
hismiiidtoo inuchto fmall obfer^
nation c' Not to vfc Ceremonies at
all, is to teach others not co vfe them
a^sine ; and fo diminifheth refpedl:
efpecially they be not to be omitted
to Stranger?, and formail Natures.
Amongfi a-mans Peeres, a man fhal
bee luic of famiharity; and there-
fore it IS goodalittie tokeepflace:
amongli a mans infericiirs one fftal
be c fure of Rcucrcncc ; and there-
fore it is good a little to be lamili-
ar. Hcc that is too isnichin any

thing,

ESSAIES.
ihing/ochathe giueth an other oc-»
cafion of racictic, maketh hnrilelfc
cheape. To apply ones lelfe too-
thers is good ; fo it be v;ich dcmon-
ftration that a man doth itvpon re-
gard, and not vpon facility . Icis
a good precept, generally in fccon-
ding another. Yctto adde fomc-
what of ones ovvne ; as if you wiil
graunt his opinion, let it bee with
fome diftindtion ; ifyou wiil fellow
his motion; let itbec with conditi-
on • ifyou allow his counle'l, let it
be with alle^adging furtKer realon.
Men had neede beware how they
be tcoperfit in complements. For
bee they ncuer fo fufricient other-
wife, their Enuyers will be furc to
giuethcm that attribute to the dif-
aduantage of their greater ver-
tue . It is lolTe aUo in bufinciTe to
be too full ofrcfpc6^s, orto be too
curious in oblcruing times and
oportunicies.ow/^wc;? laith, //tf f/^^f

Of Sutors,
cofjftdereth the vpindfhall not few ^ and
he thi^t looks th to the Clouds ^all not
reape^ A wife man will make more
opportunities then he findes.

1^1. Of Sutors.

Any ill matters arc
vndertaken, and ma-
ny good mactcrswith
ill minds. Some cm-
brace fuits which ne-
uer meane to dcale cffcd^ualiy in
them, but if they fee there may bee
life in the matter by feme other
ineane, they will be content to win
a thanke.or take a fecond reward^or
atleaftto make vfe in the meanc
time of the Sutors hope. Some take'
hold of fuits oncly for anoecafion

to

ESSAIES.
to crofTe fome other, or to make an
Informacion whereof they could
not other-wife haue apt pretext,
without care what become of the
fuit when that turne is ferued. Nay,
foine vndertake fuites with a full
purpofe to let tlipem fail, to the end,
to gratifie the aduerfe party or com-
petitor , Surely, there is in fort a
right in euery fuit; either a right of
cquitie, if it be a fuit of controuer-
iie ;ot;riphtof defartjif it be afuic
ofpetition. If affed^ion lead a man
tofauourthe wrong tide in lullice,
let him rather vfe his countenance
to compound the matter then toca-
ric it. If affedion lead a man to fa-
uourthelefle worthy in defart, lee
him do it without deprauing or dif-
abling the better deferuer . In fuits
a man doth not well vnderftand , it
is good to refer them to fome friend
oftrurt and iudgement,thatmay re-
port whether he may dcale in them

with

Of Spttors.
witli honour. Sutors are (o diftafted
V ith dclaies and abufes, that plainc
icS>^ deniingin denvJDgto deal- infuits
f c^atfirft, and rcporiing the fucceflc
'^^"bi»:ely,3ndin challcpgingnomore
ihankcs then one hath dcietued, is
grownc not onciv honourable, buc
alio gracious. In fuitsof fauour, the
firliconuning ought to take httic
place : fofarre forth confideracion
may bee had of his cruft, that if in-
telligence of the matter could not.
othervvife haue becne had , bui by
him, aduantagc be not taken of the
note, but the party left to his other
meancs. To be ignorant of the va-
lue of a fuit is fimpiicity, as well as
to be igr.oranc of the right thereof,
is want of confcience . Sc crefic ia
fuitsisagreat nieane of obtaining;
For voycing them to be in torwaid-
ncfle, may difcouragc fomc kind of
Suitors, but doth quicken anda-
wakc others. But tiii>ing of the fuits

is

istheprincipali. Ti Minglfay, not
onelyin rcfpcdt of the perfon that
£houldgra"nc it, but inrefpeif^ of
tbafe which arc like to crofle it.Lcc
a man in the choile of his mean, ra-
ther chufe the fitteft mean, then the
greatefi mcan^and ratherthem that
deale in certaine things, then thofc
that are generall. The reparation of
adenialC is (bmetimes equall to the
fir ft graunt, if a man (hew himfelfe
neither deief^ed, nordifcontented,
IniquHtn pdtoivt at^UHm^feraSy is a
good ruje whcr a man hath ftre«*»gth
offauor; but othervvife a man were
better rife in his fuit; for bee that
wofild haue ventured at firft to hauc
loft the Sutor, will not in the con-
clufion, lo^eboth'hc Suiorandhis
owneformer fauour. Nothing is
thought fo eafie a rcqueft to a great
perfon as his Letter ; and yet ifit be
not in a good caufe, it is fo much
out of his reputation.

H Of

* ^3. Of FoUovpen and

Friends.

Oftly followers are
not to be liked, left
while a man ma-
kcthhistrainclon-
gcr, hce make his
Wings fliortcr. I
reckon to be coftly,not them alone
which charge the purfc, but which
are weanfome and importune in
fuits. Ordinary Followers ought to
challenge no higher conditions
then countenance, recommendati-
on, and protedlion from wronges.
Fa^^ious Followers are worfe to be
liked, which follow not vpon affec-
tion to him with whom they range
thcmfelues , but vpon difcontenc-
inent conceiucd againft fome other.

Where-

BSSAIES. ;

Wherupon commonly enfuctVi, that
ill incclligcncc, that we many ciires
fee between great pcFfonages.Like*
wife glorious Followers are full of
inconiieniency ; for they teint bufi-
nefle through waut^f fecrecy, and
they export honor from a man, and
make himarcturnein^nuy. The
following by ccriaine States, aun«
f vverablc to that which a great per-
fonhimfelfeprofefl'cth, as of Soul-
xlicrs to him that Iwth bin imploied
in the wars, and thelijce, hacheuer
becnc a thing ciuill, iiXi^ well taken
cucn in Monarchies ^ fo it be with*
out too much ponipc or popularitVo
But the moft honorable kind of fol»
lowing, is to bee foilowcd , as one
thatapprehcndethio aduance vcr-
tucanddefartinall fore of perfons.
And yet where there is nocminent
oddesin fufticicncy , it i$ better to
take with the more paflable , then
with the more able. In goucrnmcnc
H2 it

of Followers and Friends*
it is good tovfc men of one ranlce
equally: For tocountcnaiicefcme
cxtraordinanly, is to make them in-
folent, and the reft difcontent; be-
caufe they may chime aduc. But in
fauour to vfe men with mu,ch diffe-
rence and ele(^ion, is good; For it
makcthihe perfons preferred more
thankful,and the reft moreofficious;
becaufeall is of fauour. It is good
not to make to much of any man ac
thefirft, becaufe one cannot hold
out that proportion. Tobegouer-
ned byoneisnotgood,andtobec
diftracted with a>any, is worfe ; buc
to take aduife of fome few friends,
IS cucvhonoizblc, For lookers ofj^ma^
nj ttmesfee more then Gawefiers, and
the vale heft dtfcouereth the hill, Ther
is little fricndfiiip in the world, and
leaftofallbctweene equals , which
was wont to be magnified . That
that is,is between Superior and Jnfe^
mr,whofe fortunes may compre-
hend the one the o thcr. Of

ESSA2ES.

ting.

T is geiKrally better
to deale by fpeech ,
then by letter, and by
the meditation of a
third, then by a mans
fclfc. Letters are good, when a man
would draw an aunfwer by Letter
backc againe, or when it may fcruc
foramansiuftification afterwardes;
to produce his own letcer,or where
it may be danger to bee interrupted
or heard by peeces . To deale in
perfon is good ^ when a mans face
brccdes regard, as commonly with
xnfcriours, or in tender cafes where
H3 a

of Negociatmg.
amans eye vpontlie countenance of
him v\ ith whom one rpcakeibj may
giuc him a dire6bon how far to goc,
and generally where a man wiUre-
ferue to himfelfe hberty either to
difaduow, or to expound. In choife
of Iiiftrumenisit is better tochufe
men of aphinrr fort, that are like
to doe that th^t is committed to
them, and to report backc agame
faithfully the fucccflc, then thofe
that are cunning to contriue out of
other mens bulincfle, fomcwhatto
grace themfcluesjand will hf'lp the
matter in report for fatisfav5tion
fake. It is better to found a pcrlon
with whom one deales a far offjthen
to fail vpon the point at firll, except
you meane to furpril'e him by fome
fiiortqucftipn. It is better dealing
with men in appetite, then with
thofe which arc where they would
be. If a man dealc with another \'p-
pn conditions, the ftart or firft per-
formance

ESSAIE^S.
formance is all,which a man cannot
reafonably demaund , except either
the nature of the thing bee fuch
which muft goe before, orelfe a
mancanperfwadethe other partic,
that he (hall ftillneede himinfome
other thing,or elfe that he be coun-
ted thchonefter man. Allpradifeis
todifcouer, ortoworke. Men dif.
couer themfelues in truft,in paiTion,
at vnawares,and of ncceiTitiejwhcn
they would haue fome-what detic,
and cannot find an apt pretext . I£
you would worke any man, you
muft either know his nature and
fafhions , and fo lead him ; or his
ends, and foperfwade him; or his
wcakcncfle or difaduantagc, and (o
awe him, or thofe that haue intcrcft
in him, and fo gouerne them • In
dealing with cunning perfons, wee
muft cuer confidcr their ends to in-
terpret their fpecches ; & it is good
to fay little to them, and that which
they Icaft lookc for. H4 Of

sssmssssmssssm^sm

54-. 0/ FaBicn.

Anyhauc an opinion
JJj noc wife; Thac for a
Prince to goucrnhis
efface, or tor a grcac
perfon co gouernc his
preccedingi?, according to the rc-
fpeitof Fa£lions^ is the principall
part of poJlicy : whereas contrari-
w'ife,thc chiefcft wifdome is cither
in ordering thofethingesvvhich are
gcnerall,and wherein men of feuc-
rall fa<^ions 60 ncuerthelcflc agree,
or in dealing with correfpondencc
to particuler perfons, one by one.
But I fay not, that the confidcrati-
on of Factions is to bee neglected,
Meane men miift adhere, but great
men that haue ftrength in them-

felues

ESSAieS.
felues were better to maintain tbem-
felues indifferent, and neutrall. Yet
euen in beginners to adhere To mo-
derately, as he be a man oFthe one
faction , which is paffableft with
the other, commonly giuethbcli
way. The lower and weaker faction
is the firmer in coniunction. When
one of the factions is extinguil'hed,
the remaining fubdiuidcth: which
is good for a Iccond.It is common-
ly fecnc, that nrien once placed, take
in vMth the contrary faction to that,
by which they enter. The Traitor
in factions lightly goeth away with
it: for when matters haue ftuckc
longinbaMancing, the winning of
fome one man caTkth them, and he
gctteth all the thankcs . The euen
carriage betwccne two factions,
proceedeih not akvaies of modera-
tion, butof atrucncfleto amans
fclfe, with end to make vfc of both.
Certaincly, in Italj they hold it a

Uulc

Of Praife.
liidefufjjcd^ in Popes, when they
haue often in their mouth Padre
Com7nune^ and take it to a figne of
one that mcaneth to refer all to the
grcatnefie of his owne houfe.

35. OfTraife^,

Raifeis the reflei^i-
on of venue: but it,
is as the Glafle , or
body is, which gi-
ueththcrcflediion.If
it be from the common people,it is
commonly falfc and naught; and
rather followcthvaineperfonsjihen
vertuous : for the common people
vnderftand not many excellent ver-
tues : the loweft vcrtues draw praifc
from them, the middk vertues

workc

ESS AIES.
,worke in them aftoiiirhment, or ad-
mirarion;but of the highe(t vertucs,
thcyhaue no Icnfeor pcrceiuingac
all. But rbewes, and. Species vtrtuti-
hu^ fimiles , leruc beft with ihcm.
Ccrtainly^Fameis likca Riuer that
be treth vp things hght and fwolne ;
and drowne thinges weighty and
folid: Butifpcrfons of quality and
iudgement concur, then it is as the
Scnpturc khh\Nomen honum inflar
vnguenti fiagrar?ti5 ; It Pjlleth all
round abour, and will not canlie a-
way. For the odors of Oyntments
arc more durable then thofe of flo-
wers. There be fo many falfe points
ofpraife^thata manmayiuftly hold
itfufpc(^. SomcPraifcsproceedcs
mccrely of flattery : and if he be an
ordmary flatterer, he will haiie cer-
tain common attributes, which may
feruc cuery r»an r if be be a cunning
flatterer, hee w ill follow the Arch-
flattcrcr, which is a mans fclfc, and

wherein

OfPraiJ^.
whcrin a man chinketh bcft of hhn-
felfc, therein ^the flatterer will vp-
hold him moft : But if he be an im-
pudent Flatterer, looke vvhcreif7 a
man isconfcient to himfelfc, that
he is moft dcfcctiue,and is moft out
of countenance in himfelfe, that
will the flatterer entitle him to per-
force ; Spreta co»fciefJtia.Scmc prai-
iescomc of good vviflies and re-
rpects, which is a forme due in ci-
uility to Kmges and great perfons,
Laudafidopr^cipere ;\\hcn by telling
men what they are, they reprcfcnc
to them what they fiiould be. Some
men are praifcd malicioufly to theii:
hurt, thereby to ftirre cnuy and iea-
loufie towards them ; Veffimnm^ ge'-
nta iKTmicorun2-> Undantmnu , Cer-
tainly moderate praife vfed with o-
portUDity, and not vulgar J but ap-
propriate, is that which dooth the
good, Salomon faith ; Hec that prat-
fetb his Fnojd aloftd, rijttsg earlj , it

JhaU

1E.SSAIES.

Jhall be to htTn^ no better then a curffe.
Too much magnifying of man or
matter, doth irritate contradiction,
and procure enuy and fcornc.

1^6. Of fudictUure.

^Vdges ought torenae-
bcr, that their Ofhce is
lus dtcere, and not las
[I dare ; to interpret Law,
and not to make Law,
or giue Law ; Elfc will ic be like the
prefumption of the church o^Rome,
which vnder pretext of cxpofuion
of Scripture, vfurpcth and practi*
feth an Authoritic to adde and
alter ; and to pronounce that
which they doe not findc, and by
colour of Antiquitic to introduce
nouekie. ludgcs ought to be more

learned

Oflttdicature,
learned then witty ; more reuercnd
then plaufiblc , and more aduifed
then confident. Aboueallthinges,
integrity is theirporrion and pro-
per vertue. C«r/^^ (faith the Law) is
hs that remioueih the Landmarke,
The miflaier of a Ivleereftone is too
blame . But it is the vniurt ludgc
that is the capital remouer of Land-
maikes, when he define th aniifTeof
Lands and properiie .One foule fen-
tcnccdooch more hurt, then many
foule examples ; for they doe but
corrupt the ftreame ; the other
corrupteththcFountainc . So faith
Salomon ; lro>2s ttirhatus gr vctia r^x*-
YHpta-efl tPiftus cade»s in caHfafna co~
rantj admrfario ; The cftice of Jud-
ges m3y haiie reference vnto the
parties that fue; vnto the Aduocares
that pleads vnto the Clearkes and
Minifters of lufticc vnderneath the;
and to thcSoucraign or ftate abouc
them.

There

ESSAIES.
There ^<f(raith the Scripture)f/7^r
tHrne ludgemcnt irdo Worme^ wood';
and furtly there be alfo that turne ic
into vinegar: Rorin-iuflicemaivcth
it bitter, and delaies make Jc fowrc.
The principall duty of a lud^^.e, is
to fuppreifc force and fraud; -^her^
of force is the more pcrnitious, the
morfe open ; and fraud the ui^re
clofeand difguifed. Addecheroto
contentious fuits, which ongr.fr'>
bee fpewcd out as the futftic o^f
Courts . A Judge ought to prepare
his way toaiuft fentencc, as God
vfeth to prepare his way, byraifing
valhes^and taking downe hils : So
when there appeareth on cither fide
an high hand, violent profccution,
cunning aduantagestakca^combi-
natlonj power, great counfell, then
is the vertuc of a ludge feenc , to
make inequality equall; that he may
plant his iudgment as vpon an eucn
ground. Qmfortim emungit^ elicit

OfludicatHre.
fangtufum 'y And where theWifie«
prcilcishard wrought, it ye;ldcs a
havl"hWine thattaAs oftiicGrapc-
ftone. Judges mu(^ beware of hard
conrtrudions and ftained inferen-
ces; for there is no worfe torture
then the torture of Lavves ripeciaJly
in cafe of Lavves penal! ; they ought
to haue care that that which was
meant for terror, be not turned in-
to rigour; and that they bring not
vpon the people that fl:)owcr wher-
of the Scripture fpeaketh ; Vluetfii*
fer eos lae^neos : For penall Lawcs
preflcdjarc afliovvrcoffnarcsvpon
the people.ln caufes oflife & death,
ludgcs ought as farre (as the Lawe
permittethj in luHice to remember
mercy ; and to cafi: a feucre eye vp-
on the example : but a mercifull eye
vpon theperfon.

Patience and grauicy of hearing
is an eflfentiall part of luflice, and an
oucr-fpeaking ludge is no well tu«

ncd

2S SAILS,
nedCymball. Ic is no grace to a
ludge, firft to finde that which hcc
might haue heard in due time from
the Barre ; or to fhew quicknefle of
conceit in cutting off counfcll or e-
iiidencc too (here ; or topreuent in-
formation by queflions, though
pertinent. The parts of a ludgearc
four ; to direct the cuidencc; to mo-
derate length, repetition^ or imper-
linencyof fpeech ; to recapitulate,
fele(5^, and collate the matcriall
points ofthat which hath bin faid ;
and to giiie the rule or fentence.
Whatfoeuer is aboue thefc, is too
much; and procccdeth eyiherof
glory and willingnefle to fpcake^or
of impacfence to heare, or of fhorc-
ncfle of memory, or of want of a
ftaid andequallattention. Iris a
ftrangcthingtp fee, that thebold-
nefl'e of Aduocates fftould preuailc
with Judges ; whereas they fiiould
imitatcGodjin whofe feat they iir,
I who

Of ludicature,
whorcprcflcth the prcfumptuous,
and giucth grace to the Modeft.
But it is more ftrange, that the Cu-
ftomofthctime doth warrant Jud-
ges to hauc noted rauouritcs,which
cannot butcaufc multiphcation of
Fees, and fufpition of by-waycs .
There is due from the ludge to the
Aduocate , fome commendation &
gracing, where caufes arc wcl han-
dled, and faire pleaded ; cfpecially
towardcs the lide which obtayneth
not ; For that vpholds in the CTienc
the reputation of his Councell, and
beats downc in him the conceit of
hiscaufe. Thereislikewifeduero
thepubhkea ciuill reprchenfionof
Aduocates, where there appearcth
cunning Councell, groflc negledl,
flight information, indifcreet pref-
fing, or an ouerbold defence.

The place ofluftice is an hallow-
ed place; and therefore, not onelie
the bench, but the foote-pacc and

pre.

ES SAILS,

dn£^s and purprize thereof , ought
to beprcferued without fcandall&
corruption,For certainly (7r^/?tf/ (as
the Scripture (z\ih)wi!l^ot be gathe-
red of Thome s or ThtHles\ neythcr
canlullice yeelde herfruite with
fwcetnefre,ambngftthc Briers and
Brambles of catching and polling
CIcarkcy and Minifters, The atten-
dance of Courts is fubie(5^ to fourc
bad Inftruments :Firft,ccrtainper-
fons, that are fowers of fuits, which
make the Court fwcl^and the coun-
try pine. The feeond fort is of thofe
that engage Courts in quartellcs of
Iurifdi6tion, and are not truly Ami-
ti Cnritty but Parafiti^wia^ in puf-
fing a Court vp beyond hir bounds'
for their owne fcrappcs and aduan-
tagc. The third fort is of thofe, that
may bee accounted the left handcs
of Courtes, pcrfonncs that arc
full of nimble and finifter Trickes^
^indfhifts , whereby rhcy perucrc
1 2r the

Of Judicature,
.he pkine and dircd: courfcs of
Courts, and bring lufliccinto ob-
like lines and labyrinths . And the
fourth is the Poler and exa6ter of
Fees; which iuftifics the common
rcfemblacc of the Courts of Inrtice,
tp the bufh , whcreunto vvhilc the
fiiecpe flyes for defence in weather,
heeis fure to lofe part of his fleece.
On the other fide, an ancient Clerk,
skilfullinprefidents, wary in pro-
ceeding, and vnderibndinginthe
bufincs of the Court, is an excellent
finger of a Court; and doth manic
times point the way to the ludgc
himielfe.

Laftly, ludges oughtaboue al to
remember the conclufion of the Ro»
mm twelue Tables ; Sai/^ popu/i fti'
prema lex^ and to know thar Lawes,
except they be in order to that end,
are but thmgscaptious,and Oracles
Qotwe'l infpired. Therefore it is an
happy thing in a State, when Kings
'' ' and

ESSAIES.
and States doe often confulc with
Judges ; and againe , v^hen ludges
do often confult with the King and
5tate:the one, when there is matter
of Law intenienient in bufineffe of
State; the other,when there is (omc
confideration of State interucnienc
in matter of Law. For many times
the thing deduced to ludgcmcnt,
may be Meum^ &tuum y when the
reafon and confequence therof may
trench to point of eflate ; I call mat-
ter of e(latc not onelythe partes of
Soucraignetic, but whatfoeuer in-
troduccch any great alteration or
dangerous prcfident, or concerned!
manifeftJy any. great portJpn„of
people. Andletnoman weakelie
conceiue, that iuft Lawes^and true
pollicy, hauc any antipathy . For
they are like the fpirits, and finewes
that one mooues within the other.
Neither ought Judges to bee fo ig-
norant of their ovvne right , as to
1 3 thin|^

OfVaine glory,
thin'ke there is not left to chern as a
principallparr oftiicirofFice^a wife
vfe and application of Lavvcs. For,
they may remember what the Apo-
i^leCaith of a greater law the theirs,
T^of [ctrnm qmA lex bona efi^ mo do
qma ek vtatur legitime^

37, OfVatne-glory.

Twas prettily deuifed
of ^fop. The Fltefate
Z'ppofj the <*y4xletree of
the Chariot Wheele , and
f^^iidy fVhat a daFi doe I
raife f So arc there fome vaine per-
fonSjthat whatfocucrgoeth alone,
ormooiies vppon greater ineanes,
they thinkc it is they that carricit .
They that arc glorious, rnuQ needs
becfa(Slious •forallbraucry (xands

vp'

ESS AIES,
vpon comparifons.Tliey miiftnccds
be violent, to make good their own
vaunts. Neither can they be fecrer,
and therefore not effect uall, but ac-
cording vnto the French Prouerbe ,
BeaucoHf de bruit ^ feu definite
Much bruit, Httle fruite . Yet cer««
tainly, there is vfe of this quality in
ciuill aftayres. Where there is an
opinion and fame to be created, ci-
ther ofVertHt or Creatnejfe : thefe
men arc good Trumpeters. Again,
as Titm L'tHius noteth in the cafe of*
jimiochm and the ty£tol't(itjSy There
aref&metimef great effe^fes of crojfe
//^/ ; as if a man that fliould inter-
pofe himfelfe to negotiate between
two, fhould to either of them feuc-
rally pretend, more intreft then he
hath in the other. And in this & the
like kindjit often fals out, that fom-
what is produced of nothing . For
lies are fufficient to breede Opini-
on, and Opinion bringcs on Sub-
1 4 lUncc .

Of ZJaine 'glory,
Aance. But principally in cafes of
great cntcrpnic, vpon charge and
aduenciireiuchcoinpoficion of glo-
rious natures doch put lite into bufi-
nefl?,and thole that are of folid and
fobcr natures,naue more of the bal-
jail, then of thclaile. Certainely>
Yatne-glory hclpeth to perpetuate a
m'^iis '.-ncmoryj and Vertue was ne-
uef fo beholding to humane nature,
j^s it recciued his. due at the fccond
hand. Neither had the fame o{Ctce^
' TO ^Seneca ^ fltnuu o^curioUi^, bor^Q
hcragefo well,if it had notbecnc
joyned with fome vanity in them-
felucs; like vnto varnirh,thar makes
Srchngs not onely fhinc, but lift,
Butalichis while, when Ifpcakc of
Vainc-glory, Imcane not of that
property tliatT/iffi/^^ doth atttibutc
to Aiucuwu!^ Ommunu quA dt.verat
fecerat qu^ arte quadairu oflentator :
For that procecdes not of Vanitie,
but of a natural! iDapnanimity and

ESSAIES,
difcretion'jand in {owe peifons U
not onely comely, but gracious. For
cxccufatioi.s, ccdions, modeliie it
fclfc w<^li gouerni-d^ are but Arts of
cftcntation : and amongi^ thoie
Arts there is none better, tlien that
\^■hich ?ltnim Secunmu fpcaketh of,
which 13 to be iiberall ofpraifcand
commendation toothers, in thst
wherein a mans feife hath any per-
fedtion . For faith Flwse vcric
wittily ; In commendrng another you
do J our Jelfe right ; for hee that joii
commend^ is eytherfupertor to yoH^ in
that J OH commend^or inferior , If he he
tr.feriour^ if he hee to he commended ;
yoHryiHchmoreiifhe he fufcriour ^ if
he be not to he commended \ycti
mmh lejje.

i^of

38. Of the GreatneJJe

ofKmgdomeT,

5^ He fpcech of Themi'
Jloc/esy v.'hich was ar-
rogant in challenge.

is profitable in Cen'

Cure . Defired at a

Banquet to touch a Lute, hee faide.
He could not fiddle, hat he could make
afmatl Towne to beceme a great City,
This ipeech, at a time ofjolacejand
not ferious, wasvnciuill,andat no
time could bee decent of a mans
fclfe. But it may haue a pretty ap-
plication. For to fpeak truly of po-
litickes and Statefmen , there arc
romtime«j, though rarely ^thofe that
can makealmalleliate great, and
cannotfiddle. And there bee ma-
ny that can Fiddle very cunningly,

and

ESSAIES.

and yet the procedure of tlieir Art,
is to make a flouri A:jin^ cflatc r«.'i-
nous and diftrcficd. For certainly
thcfc dcgcnei ate Arts^vvhereby di-
ners PoJicickes and Goucrnoiirs do
gaincboth fatisfadion wich tiicyr
Maimers, and admiration wich the
vuIgar^dcTeruc no better name then
Fidiing; if they adde nothing to the
Safety, firength , and ampJitudeof
the States they gouerne.The gieat-
nedc of a State in bulke or Territo-
ry, doth fall vnder meafurcjand the
greatncHe offinancesand rcuenue,
dooth fall vndcr computation ; the
population may appear by muftcrs,
and the number of Cities & Towns,
by ChartesandMaps : but yet 'here
is nothing amongft citiili affayrcs,
more fubiedl to error, then ihe right
valuation & true iudgmenc concer-
ning the grcatncs of an eftatc. Cer-
tainly i here is a kind of icfemblance
between the kingdom of hcaucn,&

the

Ofthegreatnejfe ofKingdomes,
the Kingdomes vpon the carth.Thc
Kingdomeof Heaucn »s compared
not CO any great Kemell, or Nu:
but to a graine of Moftird ; vviiicli
is one ofthe Ical^ of Graines , buc
hath in it a property and fpirit h^Ri-
ly togetvpandlpread. So are there
States that ave great in Territorie,
and yet not ape to conquer or in-
large: and others, that haue but a
rmailditrjention or(femme,and yet
apttobcc the foundation of greac
Monarchies. Walled Townes, fto-
redArceniisand Armories, goodly
Stables, Elephants, f if you will)
Mafleof Treafiire, number in Ar-
mies, Ordinance, and Artillcric,
they are all but a Sheepe in a Lyons
skinne, except the breed and dilpo-
fition of the people bee militarie.
The helpe is mercenary sides . But
a Prince or State that refteth vppon
waged companies offbrrain armes,
and not of his ovvnc Natiues, miry

fpread

ESSAIES.
fpread hisfeachers for a time,but he
>A/ill mew them foone after. The
blefsingof Ifidah^nd Ifflichar will
neuer meetCi to be both the Lyons
Whelp» and the Afie laid bctv.eene
burthens : Neither will a people o-
uercharged vC'iih Tributes , bee ruer
fit for Empire . iNobility-ind Gen-
tlemen multiplying in lOO great a
proportion, makciii the common
Subie6l grow to be a Pcafarit and
bafe S ^ ame, driuen out of hart,and
butthe Gentlcmans laborer : like as
it is in Copices, where if youleaue
yourStaddles toothicke, you fhall
neuer haue cleane vndcr-uood,buc
n^rubs and buflics. And take awaie
ihemiddle people, and youtakea-
way the Infanrery, which is the
Nerue of an Army: and you biing ic
tothis» that not the hundreth pole
will be fit for a Helmct,and fo threat
population and little ftrength.Ccr-
tainely /^^/rg// coupled Armcs and

the

Of the Greatfiejfcy&c,
the Plough together well, in the
cannitucion of ancient //<«/y :

Terra fotens drmis atj^ vhere glcbiz^

For It is the Plough that yeildctb
thebcHrouIdier^ but how f main-
tained in plenty, and in the hand of
owncrs-^and not of meerc bborerSd
Sedentary and wichin-doore Arces,
find nice manufad^ures, that require
rather the fif)ger,Uhen the hande or
armejhaue in theirnaturc a contra-
riety to a difpofition militar : and
generally, all warlike people arc a
little ydle, and loue daunger better
then pain : neither muft they be to©
much broken ofic, if they fliall bee
preferucd in vigor. No body can be
heakhfuU without exercife, neither
naturallbody, norpolitike; and to*
the politikebody ofakingdomc or
eftatCjaciuill warisasthe hcate of
a feaucr : but an honorable forrainc

warrcj,

ESSAIUS.
warreis like the heate of cxerciff .
At leaft, dilcoucrics, Nawigations,
honourable fuccors of other Scares
may keepe health : For in a (lorhtul
peaccjboth coragcs vvil effeminate,
and manners corrupt.Statcs liberall
of naturalization , are capeable of
grcatneflcj and the iealous States
that reft vpon thefirft tribe and ftirp
quickly want body to cary the bou-
ghcs and branches « Many are the
ingredients into the receit for great
ncfle. No man can by care taking,
^ddc a cubit to his ftacurc,in the ii-
tle modell of a mans body. But cer-
taiacly in the great frame of king-
domes and Commonweahhcs, ic is
in the power of Princes or E{kics
by ordinances and conftitutions,
and manners which they may intrc*
ducc, to fow greatnefTe to their po-
ftcrityandfuccefsion . But thefe
things are comonly left to chance.

410/

<^\, Of Honor and %€"

H E winning of Ho-
nor is but the reuea-
ling of a mans ver>
tuc and worth with-
out djfaduantaef ^for
fome in their ad^ions doe affc(tt Ho-
nour and Reputation, v,hith fort of
men are commonly much talked of,
but inwardly litle admired •. & feme
darken their vcrrue in the (hew of
jt/o as they be vnder-valucd in opi-
nion. It a man performe that which
hath notbecn attempted before, or
attempted and giuen ouer, or hath
binatehieuedjbut net vNithfo good
circumflance,hc nTalpurchafv more
honoir,then bycftexfiing amatterof
greater difficulty orvertue,\vhcrem
be is bur r. follower.lfa tiian fo tcm-
perbiJ a<:tioi>s as irt fome one of
jhem he do content eucry faction or

com-

OfHomuT

combination ot people, rhe Muflcke
vt'ill be the fuller. A man is an il huf-
bandoFhis honor thacenireth into
any aClion, rhc failing wherein niay
dilgracc him more, the the carrying
of it through can honour him » Dif-
crcec followers help much to repu-
tation, Enuy,which is the canker of
honor,isbeitcxting!i flieciby decla-
ring a mans ieite Hi his euds, rather
to feck merit then fame, and by at-
tributing a mans fuccclTes rather to
diutnepiouidence and felicity, then
to hi^ vcrtueor pollicy. The true
Marfhailing of the degrees of So-
uerai^ne Honour are thcfe. In the
firfi: place, are Conditores, Founders
of States . In the fccond place, are
Legiflatores , .Lawe-giuers , which
arcalfo called. Second hounders^o^
Perpeim Prmcipes^ becaule they go-
ucrnc by thesr Ordinances after
they arc gone . In the third place,
are hthsratoreSy Such ^ compound
K the

and RefHtatt9».
the long mifcries of ciuil wars, or dc
liner their Countries from fcruitudc
of ftrangcrs or tyrants. In the fourth

res imperif, inch as in honorable wars
inlarge their teritories,or,make no-
ble defence againftinuadors. And in
the laft place,are Vaf res patrUjVS'h'i ch
raigneiuftly, and make the times
good wherein they hue. Degrees of
honor in fubie6^s are firft, Participes
curaruM; Thofc vpon whom princes
dodifchargc the greatcft weight of
their affaires, their BJght hands^zi wc
call them.) The next^are Duces hel-
It, Great leaders, fuch as are Princes
Lieutenants and doothem notable
feruices in the warres. The third, are
Gratiofi^ Fauorites, Such as cxceede
notthisfcantling,tobcfolace tothc
Soueraignc, and harmciede to the
people. hv\6\\\cio\jn\\,Negotijpa-'
res^ fuch as haue great place vndcr
Princes, and execute their places
withfufficiency. FINIS.

(^5\<[edttationes facrce.

I /'^ F f r!>^ workes of God and Matt»
2\^0fthe miracles of our Sawouvo

3 Of the irifsocency of the T)oHe^ and

the vpifedome of the Serpent,

4 Of the exaltation ofQharity.

5 Of the moderation of Cares,

6 Of earthly Hofe,

7 Of Hypocrites^
ZOflmpoflers. ,

p OfthefeHeraliki»d$ofImfofifire^
lo Of jithetfme,

I I OfHerepes.

I % Oftht Church and the ScrifturCc

t.7 I Of

l.Of thsJVorf^sof

y^^^^^^ OD beheld all things
^/v^^^A which his hancjes had
made,& loe they were
all pafsing good. But
A'hen man turned him

about,and took a view of the work?
which his hands had made,he found
all to be vanity and vexation of fpi-
rit: wherefore, if thou fhaltvvorkc
in the works of God, rhy fweat fhal
be as an oynment of odors, and thy
reft as the Sabbaoth of God. Thou
ft) alt trauaile in the fweat of a good
confcicncc , and fhall kcepe holie
day in the quietnefle and liberty of
the fweeteft contemplacions. But if
thoufhaltafpirc after the glorious
afi:es of Men, thy working fhall be
accompanied with compundion
and ftrifc, and thy rememberance
K3 fol-

of the MirAcles
followed with dilUft and vpbraU
dings, andiudly dooth it come to
pafletowardcs thee (Oman) that
Uncethou which art Gods worke,
docft him no rcsfoninycildinghim
vvell pleafing fcruicc, cucn thine
owne workes alfo fnould reward
thee with the hkc fruitcof bitter-
neflco

2. Of the (S\^ trades of

He hath done all thhigs rvelL

True confeffion and
applaufe :God when
he created all things,
fawthat eucrie thing
in particular, and all
thinges in generall were exceeding
l^ood.God the word in the Mira-
clcs which he wrought (now eueric
Miracle is a new CfcaiioDj and not
according

of our Sauiour,
according to the firft Creation)
would do nothing which breathed
not towards men fauor and bounty,
Moyfcs wrought Miracles & fcour-
ged the zy£giptfaffs with many
plagues. Eiias wrought Miracles ,
and lliut vp Heauen , that no Rainc
fiiould fall vpon the Earth, and a-
gainc brought downe from Heauen
the fire of God vpon the Captaines
and their bands . Slizepu wrought
alfo, and called Beares out of the "
defart to dcuour young Children.
Teter flroke ^»a»ias the facrilegi-
ous Hypocrite with prcfent death;
and Paul, Elimxi the Sorceror with
blindnelTe, but no fuch thing did
lefus, the Spirit of God difcended
downe vpon him in the forme of a
Douc, of whom hce faid ; Ton k«ffi9
of what Spirit you are. The Spirit of
/(p/kr is the Spirit of aDoue, thofe
Seruantsof Godwcreas the Oxen
ofGod treading out the Corne,and
K 4 tram-

Of the MiracUi
trampling the Sira>A' downc vndcr
their fccte, but Icfus is the Lan.bc
of God without wratli or imipe-
mcnt^. Ail hi i Mirai les were conHi- A
mate about ma«^s bo v, as his Doc- '
trine refpcvtc d ihc foule ofn^an.The
bociy oFii:an ncedcth fhcfethinges:
fuftenapce, dtfencc from outward
wrongs^andmedicinejit v.asiicthat
drew a multitude oF Fifhes into the
Nets, that he migh- giue vntomcii
niorel'.bcrall pr'-uifion . He turned
water 3 lede worthy nounfhment of
mans body, into wine, a more wor-
thy that gbds rhe heart of man. He
fentenccd the Fig-tree to wither for
not doing that duty where unto ic
was ordained, which is to bear fruit
for men^ food. He mulrjplird the
fcarfity cA a few lor^uc s and fifhes to
a fufficicncy to vid^uali an hoaRof
people. He rebuked the vvindes that
thrcatned dcftruvflion to the Sea-
faring rricn: beveflorcd mouion to

the

of our Saviour,
tfielamCjli^hc to cht bnud/pecchro
ihedumbc:. health ro the Fick^cican-
rcfle to the leprous, a right mind to
thofc that were poflc (ltd, and hfe to
the dead. No Miracle oFhis is to be
found CO haue bcenc of iudqenicnc
orrcucnge,butal!orgoodnt{1c :3nd
iricrcy^and rcfpe^f'irtg tr.ans bodic :
foras t'.uchin<^ Riches hec did noc
voL-chfafeco doc a^v Miracle, lai-e
one oncly that tribute might bee
giucn to dejar,

5. 0 t'^e fnnrcency of

the Done, and wifedonic of

the Serpent*

The Tocfe re^eii^eth-'iot the worA of
roifedcme^ except thou atfcuncr to him
xvhAt he halh in hts h.nt.

T

O a Man of apr rucrfe and ror-
rupciudgiiicnt ail jiiluuction or

per-

Of the wtjoancy of the Doue^
perfwafion is fruitleflc & contemp-
tible, which begins not with dilco-
uery,and laying open of the diftem-
pcrand ill complexion of the mind,
which is to bee recuredas a Plaifter
is ynfeafonably applyed before the
w ound be fearched : for men of cor-
rupt vnderlUnding that haue loft all
lound difcerning of good and cuill,
comcpoflcft with this preiudicate
opinion, that they ihinke all hone-
l^y and goodneflc procecdeth outof
a (implicity of manners, and a kind
of want of experience and vnac-
quaintance with the affaires of the
World. Therefore except they may
perceiucthat thofe thinges which
are in their hartSjthat is to fay,thcir
owne corrupt principles , and the
decpeft reaches of their cunning
androttennefle, to bee throughlic
founded and known e , to him that
goes about to perfwade with them,
they make but a play of the wordcs

of

andwifedome of the Serpent ,
of wifedome.Thereforc it behoueth
hjm which afpirech to a goodnelTe,
(notrctnedorparticularto himfclf,
but a frudtifying and begetting
goodnefle , which fliould draw o\\
ochers)coknow thofepointSjWhich
he called in the reuclation the deeps
ofSachan.Thathe may fpeake with
authority zud true infinuation.
Hence is the precept xTryallthrngs,
and hold that whfch is geodj which
indureth a difccrning cledlion out
of an examination whence nothing
at all is excluded, out of the fame
Fountaine arifeth that direi^ion I'Ba
joHwifeas Serpents , and innocent as
Doties, There arc neither teeth nor
ftings,norvenime,nor wreaths and
fouids of Serpents, which ought
not to be all kriowne^ and as far as
examination doth lead, tried: nei-
ther let any manhecrcfeare infef^i.
on or pollution, for the Sun enrreth
into finkcs and is not defiled. Nei-
ther

Of the Bx.'iltittion
tVierlctany maiuhinke that herein
he rcmpteth Godjfor his diligence
and generality of examinati'oii is
comirjanded,an(i God is fujfictentto
p'eferticyoH immAcnlate and^ure,

^^ Oj the ExdtaUon

of Ch^ritte,

Jflhaue reiojcedat the ouer throw of
hiTfij thjit hated me^ or tooke p/eajptre
vhcn Adaerftty dtd hejallhim.

rr — r:::rr=rr^--^' H £ dstcHatiofj or re^
f7ouy2ctyjgof lob.^cr z
man to louc ng^ine

fa

Vvhcrehenioucdjicis
i^^fe^il the charity of PubJi-
cans coDtraC'cd by mutuj^lproFr,8c
gordofhces, bui ro louc an sns E-
nemies is one of the cunningeft

points

of charity^
points of the Law ot Chrill:, and an
imitation of the diuine naturr, Buc
yet again of this charity there be di»
uers degrees; whereof the fir(i is, to
pardon our enemies when they re-
pent: of which Charity there is a
fhaddow and 1 mage, euen in noble
bea(H: for of Lyons it isareceiucd
opinion, rhat their furyand fiercencs
ccafeth cowards any thing that: yeiU
deth and proflrateth it felfe. The fe-
coud degree is, topardon our Ene-
mies , though they perfift, vvithouc
fatisfa^ions and fubmifsions. The
third degree is. not onely to pardon
and rorgiiie,& forbear our enemies,
but to deferiie well ot them, and to
doe them good, Buc all thefe three
degrees eiihcr haueor niayhaucin
them, a certaine brauery and grcac-
nefle of the minde, rather then pure
Charity: for whei". a m.^n pcrcciueth
vcrtue to flow fro himfelfe,it is pof-
fibicthathee is puffed vp and takes

con-

Of the modtrAtioK
contentment rather in tbcfruitc of
his own vcrtue, then in the good of
his Neighbours : but if any cuill o-
uertakc the Enemy from any other
Coaftjthcn from thy felfc, and thou
in the inwardeft motions of thy hare
bceft grieued and compaflionate,
anddortno waies infult , as if thy
daies of right and reucnge were at
the laft come. This I interpret to be
the height and exaltation of Chari*

5. Of the moderation

of Cares,

Sfifficieutfor the d^j is the euill there*
of.

T Here ought to be a man furein
worldly Cares, otherwile they
are both vnprofirable , as thofe
■which opprelTe the mind, and afto-
niOitheiudgement, and prophanc

as

of Cares,
astbofc which fauour of a mincle,
which promifeth to it felfc a certam
perpetuity in the thinges of this
World : for \vc ought to bee dales-
men,and not to morows-rnen^c on-
fideringthc (hortnclTc of our time,
and as hee faith : Laying hold oh the
frefentday : for the future thinges
flial in their turnes become prcfent :
therefore the care of the prcfent fuf-
ficeth:and yet moderate cares(whc-
ther they concernc our particular
or the Common-wcahh, or our
Friends) are not blamed. But here-
in is a twofoldccxcefle; the one,
when the Chaine oi Thred of ouc
cares extended and fpunout to an
ouer great length, and vnto times
too far off, as if vvc could binde chc
Diuinc prouidcncc by ourprouKi-
ons, which euen with the heathen
was ahvaies found to be a thint^ in-
folent and vnlucky, for thofe which
did attribute much to Fortune, and

vverc

vr^ercnily qc h.\^^ to apprelicnd
viitr; alr.cnty rhc prclent occa{io."!S,
hai.T for the moit narr in their aC.ti-
ons be' ne iiapps But rhey who m a
comp::iTcJ^^ iledoinc banc entred in-
to a confiJencc that ihf y had belai-
cd »K Clients, hnue for the molt part
cncoiintrcd misfortune. The fccond
cxctfll- IS when VIC dwell longer in
ourCsres, then is reqUifite for due
df liberacing, or firme rcfoloing: for
who is theve aiiiongti vs that catech
no more then fufficeth either to rc-
foiue of a courfc,or to conclude vp-
on an impofsibility, and doaih not
ftillchew oucr the fame things, and
tread a maze in the fame thoughts,
and vanifhcth in them wirhmit ifT-e
orconclufion : which kind of cares
are mo(^ contrary to all diuine
and bnmaine rc-
fpeds.

Of

6.0fSarth!yHope,

Betters thejightoftheeye^ thtfi
the apfrehenjion of the mmd.

Vrc fenfc recciuin

g

cuery thing, accord-
ing vnro chenaturall
imprcfsion, makes a
better Scare and Go-
uerruTiciiiottheniinde, then there-
fame imaginations and apprehcnfi-
ons ofthe minde : for the minde of
man hath this nature and propcrtie,
eucnin thegraueft and mort feded
wits , that from the fence of eucrie
pcrticular, it doth as it were bound
and rpring forv\ ard, and take holdc
of other matters, foretelling vnto ic
felfcthat all fliall proouelikevnto
chat which beatcth vppon thepre-
L fcnc

of earthly Hofe,
fent fence : ifthe fence be of go©d,
iteal ly runnes into an vn-lin.mited
hope, and, into a like feare ; when
the fence is of euill, according as is
faide.-

The oracles of hopes doth oft dhufe.
And that contrary,

^freward font h -Jay er is feare in
doubts.

Bin yet offcare there may be made
fome vfe, for it prepareth patience,
and awaketh induHry.

2Jo fkape o^ill^ comes new or flravgc to me^
All lortsfct dovfne^yca and prepared be.

But hope feemeth a thing alto-
gether vnprofltablc/orto what end
ferueth this conceit ofgood. Con-
fider and note a httleif the good tal
out lelTe then thou hopefi , i^ood
though it be , ycr leffe becaufc it is,
it feemeth rather lode then benefit
through thy cxceffe ofhope: if the
good prooue equal U proportiona-
ble

Of 8:4rthly Hope.
bic in eueut to thy hope, yet the flo-
wer thereof by thy hope is gathe-
red, io 2ib when it comes , tiic grace
of it is gone, and it fecm^'s \k6^ and
therefore fooncrdravvcth onfacie-
ty : admit thy fLicccflTe prooue better
the thy hope, it istruea gainefeems
to bee made : but had it not beene
better to hauc gained the principal!
by hoping for nothing then the in-
creafe by hoping for Icffc , And
this IS the operation of Hope in
good fortunes, but in mi:-fortunes
it weakenech all force and vigor of
the mindc : for neytheris there al-
"wayes.matterofHope, and if there
bee, yet if it faylebut in part, it
dooth wholly ouerthrpw thecon-
flancyand rcfoluiion ofthcminde,
and t^efides though it doth carry
vs through ^ yet it is a greater
Dignity of minde to bcare cuils
by fortitude and ii'dgement, then
by a kinde of abfenting and ali-
L 2 enation

Of Earthly Hope, '
nation of the mind froimhings pre*
fcnt to things future,for that it is to
hope. And therefore, it was much
lightncrtc in the Poets to faign hope
tobeasacounterpoyfonof humain
difeafes^as to mittigate and afl'wage
the fury and anger of chem, whereas
indcede it doth kindle and enrage
them, and caufcth both doubhng of
thcm&relapfes, Notwithftanding
we fee that the grcatcft nuojber of
men, giuejthcmfelues ouer to their
imaginations of hope and aprehen-
fions of the minde, in fuch fort,thac
vngratefull towards things paft,and
in a maner vnmindful of things pre-
fent^as if they were euer Children &
beginners, they are ftill in longing
for things to come, Ifaw all (Jllen
walking vnder the Sunne , re fort a»d
gather to thefecondperfon^r^htch was
afterwards to fucceed y thiols an eutll
dtfeafe , and a great jdlencffe of the
minde.

But

Of Earthly Hope.

But perhaps you will ask tlic quc-
ftion, whither it be not better v\'hen
things ftand in doubtfull termes,to
prefumcthe bcft, and rather hope
well, then diftruft; fpecially feeing,
that hope doth caufe a greater tran-
quility of rninde?

Surely I do iudge a ftate of mind
which in all doubtfull expectations
is fetled and floteth not, and dooth
this out of a good gcuerniricnt and
compofitionoftheaffedions, to.be
one of the principal! fupportes of
mans life : But that afTurauncc and
repofc of the mind, which only rides
at Ancor vpon hope. Ido reie(5l as
wauering and wcake, not that it is
not conuenicnt to forefec and pre-
fuppofe out of afound andfobci
ccnicclurc, as well the good as the
euill, that thereby we may fit our a»
6^ions to the probabilities and likc-
lyboods of their euenc , fo that this
be a work of the vnderftanding and
L 3 iudgc-

Of Sarthiy Hope^
iudgement, with a due bent and in-
clinarjon of the afTe ; ion .* buc
which of you hatlj fo kept his Hopes
^A'ithin Jimites, as when it is fo, that
you hauc out of a watch-full and
(long diicourfe of the minde fct
d(K\ne thebcctcr fucccile to bee in
appai ancy the more hkely, you haue
HOC dwelt vpon the verymufe and
foicthought of the good to come,
and gii-'ing icope and fauour vnto
your inindt , to fall into fuch cogi-
tations as into a plcalant dreamc;
and this it is v.hichm^kes themind
lights ti txhy , vnequall a-d wande-
ring : wherefore alJour Hope is to
b^ beftowcd vpon the heaucnly life
tocoHie. But heere on earth the
purer cur fence is from the i ifcdion
and tin61:ute of imagination, the
better and w ilei fculc.
Thefrrin of life to little doth a-^WMut,
■Arsd tlxrefore doth forbid a longer
eoptnt.

Of

7. 0/ Hipocntes.

IdemaHndmercy and not facrificet.

Lithe boafiing of the
hipocrit is of the worlcs
of the firlT Table of the
law, which is ofodora*
ticn and duty towards
God : whereof the reafon is double,
both becaufe fuch workes haue a
greater pompe and demonftration
ofholit'icirc, and alfo becaufe they
doleffe croflc il^ir affcdions and
defires , therefore the way to con-
xndi Hjpocrites , is to fend them
from the workes of facrifice to the
workes of mcrcy,whcn^e commcth
that faying.

Th^i is pure and imaculate religton

ve'tth God the father^ to vtjtt Orpb^r/es

and Widdovf€s in their tr'tbukUens .

L 4 And

Of Hypocrites,
And that faying : He that iotteth not
his Brother who m^ he hath fee fie, how
can he latfe Gpdy rvhot)tj- bee hath not
feene.

Novi, there is another kinde of
'deeper jnd more cxtrauagant hypo-
crific* for, lomedcceyuing them-
fducii,and chinking thcmlelus wor-
thy of a more neer acccfle and con-
uerfation with God, doneg!e(f^ the
duties of Charity towardcs their
Nejghbor,as inferior matter.? Avhich
did not indeed caufe Originally the
beginning of a monafticall life (for
the beginninges were good ) but
brought in that excefleand abufc
which arc followed aTrcr: For, it is
cruly \3i\de,7hat the Office of pray wg
is (threat Office in the Church, And it
is for the good of the Church , that
therbe conforts ofmen freed from
the cares of this worlde, who may
with daily and<icuout lupplications
and obferuanccs, folicite the diuine

Maie-

Of Hipocrittf*
Maieiiy, for the caufes of the
Church. But vnro ihis ordinauncc ,
that other hipocriiie is a nigh ntigh
bour, neither is thegenerall inRjiii-
tion to be blanked, bur thofe fpiriccs
•v.'hich exair thcmfclucs toohighto
be refrained ; for eucn lf7och which
VV3S faide to walke with GOD, did
prophecic, as is dehuercd vnto vs
by Ifide^ and did indow the Church
with the fruit of his prophefy which
he left: and lohn Baptffi ^wnto whom
they did referrc, as to the author of
a Monafticall life, trauailed and cx-
crcifcdmuchin the mini(Ury both
ofPfophefieand Baptizing, for as
tothcfe others, who are fo officious
towardesGod, to them belongcth
that qiic(\\on^/fthou do iuflly what is
thn to God,or what profit doth he take
ifj thy hiitids ? VVheretore,the works
of Mercy , are tliey which arc the
w orkcs of DiftinCtion, vA hereby to
findc outHipocrites. Br.twith He-

rctik?5

Of ImfofloYS.
retlkes it is tonrrary , for as Hypo-
crites viich their didcmbling holy-
nefi'e towards Godjdopalhatc and
couer their imurics toward men; io
Heretikes by their morality and ho-
neftcarriagctowards menjinfinuate
and make a way for their Biafphe-
inics sgainltGod.

8. Of Impofiors^

whether we hetransfortedin minde it

is to Godw^y d.
Or vphitherwe be fiber it is tojouward

His is the true Image

3nd true Teir.pcr o^ a

I man and of him that is

I Tods faithfuliWoike-

man , his carriage and

con-

OflmfofloYS,
conueHationtowatdb God, is fjiU
ofpafsion, ofzeale J and ofcraauf-
fes , thence procecde ^rones vn«
fpcakcabie, ai dexul:ings, likevvife
in comfort, rauifhrnenr ot ipjric and
agonies. But conirarywiie, his car-
riage and ccnuerfation tovvardes
men, is full of mildneile, fobrietie ,
and applyab'e demeanor. Htnce is
chat laying, la-m^ becorytc Allthinges
toallmen & iijch hke. Contrary it is
V;ith Hipocricesandlmpoftorsjfov
ihcy in the Church, and of fore the
people fet thenifclues on fife , and
aie carried ^as it were* out of thcm-
fchjcs, and be. ornin^^ as men mfpi-
red with holy furies, they fet heaucn
and earth togeiher ; but if a man did
lee their folitary ard feperate Me-
ditations, and conuerlation vvhcre-
unto God is onely prii'y , he might
towards GOD, finde them not on-
Jycoid and without vertue, but alfo
full ofillN.^turc and Lcauen;5'^'.

bcr

Of the l^mdes of Impefture
her enough to God^ and tranjpdrted on*
Ij tow.-irds men.

i^e? '^^mm. MM mi

bm^mm

p, Ofth(L^ Seuerall

k^nds oflmfojlure,

jiuo'de prophage Jiraun^efiejfe of
IVoydr, a'fjdoppojithnsof Knowledge j
falfelyfo called.

Anoy d fond avid y/ile Fables^
Let no'sJMan deceiue youbj h't^h
Speech,

^^^"^(Eiere arc three formes
oFipcaking , which
arc as it were theftile
and phrafc of Impo-
fturc.-thcfirftkindeis
of

Ofthe'kjf2(is oflmfoflare,
ofthemjVvho as foonc as they ^aiic
gotten any fubied^ or matter , ("oc
Ihaight ca(i it into an Art^inuenting
new teroiesof Art, reducing all in-
to diuifions and dirtindions, then».e
drawing afTertionsor polnions^and
foframnig Oppofition^; by quedi-
cnsandanrwers. Hence yfTuech the
Copwebbes and datteringes of the
SchooUmen. *

The fecond kind is of them.whp
out ofthe Vanity ofthcir Witte (as
Church Poets) do make and deuile
all variety of Talcs, Stories, and ex-
amples, whereby they may Icadc
Mens mindes to a bcleefe, from
whence, did growc the Legendes
and infinite Fabulous inuentions
and Dreames ofthe auncient Hcre-
tickes.

The thirde kind, is ofchem, who
fill Mens eares with Myrteries,hi(^h
Parables, Allegories, and lilulions :
which Myfticall and profounde

forme

Of the k^ndf of/mpoffure*

forme many ofche Herctickes alf©

m'de choifc of. Bythcfirftkind

ct hcic, thcC apacifv and Wittc of

ipari is fettered and entangled: by

the fccondjic is trained on, and in-

ucigled : by the third, it is afionifh-

cd and enchanted, but by c-

uery ofthcm, the w hiic

icisfeduced and

abuicdo .

©1^®^^^'!

J^ x?

fe>ii®b^i.i5t2i^

10. Of^JtheiJme.

The Foole hathfaideinhts heart, there
u no Cod,

IrR, it is to bee noted,
that the Scripture faith.
The Foolc hath faiilc in
his hart, and notthoghc
in hishart,th2t is to lay,
he doth not fo fully th ink it in iudg-
nient;, as he hath a good v^'ill to bee
ofchatbeHefjfor feeing It makesnoc
for him that there fl^ould be a God,
herfoth fcckeby allmeancs accor^
diDgly topcrfwade and refoiue him-

feli'e.

OfAtheifme,
felfe, and ftudies to affiime, proue;,
and verific it to himlclfe, as Tome
Theame or Pofition .* All which la-
bour, notw;thftanding that Iparkic
of our Creation light^'.vhcreby men
acknowledge a Dcitie burneth jftill
v\ithin,and invaine dotn hec iiriue
vtteilyto alienate it, or put it out,
fothat it is out of the corruption
ofhis Heart and VVjI!, and not out
of the Natural! apprehcr.fion of his
Brainc and Conceit, that hec doth
let dovvne his opinion as the Com-
micall Poet faycth, Then came my
Mmde to he efmtne Ofirtion^ as if him
felfeandhis Mindchad beene two
diuerfcthinges : thereiore, the A»
theifthath rather faid and held it in
his heart, then thought or beifcued
in his heart that there is no GOD .
Secondly, it is to bee obferucd, that
bee hath faydc in his Hearty and not
Ipokcnitwithhis Mouch. Buta*
gaine you {hail note, that this fmo-

thering

of Atheifme,
ttiering of ihis perfwafiorv withia
thehait,commcth topaflcforfeare
of goucrnmcnt , and of fpeech a-
rnongii men :for as he faich ; Todt"
nj God. in a pu^Itks A^gufnent were
much , hut ifi a familiar confer encCj
vere CHrrant enough , For it this bri-
dle were rcmooued, there is no Hc-
rcfie which would contend more
to fpread and multiply^ and difTemi-
nate it Tclfc abroad, then Atheifme,
neither /hall you fee thofe men,
vhich are drcncht in this frenzy of
minde to breath almoft any thing
clfe, or to inculcate euen without
occafion , any thing more then
fpeech tending to Atheifmc,as may
appeare in Lucrefia^ the Epicure,
who makes C/fi;isinue(5^iues3g3inft
Religion, as it were a burthen or
verfeof returneto al) his other dsi-
courfcs : thcreafon fecmes to bee,
for that the Aihciftnot relying fuf-
ficiently vpon himfclfe, floating in
M mind

Ofjithetfme.
mind and vnhrisfied, and induring
within manyfaintings,&asit were
fals of his opinion, defires by other
mens opinions agreeing \Mth his,
to be rccoucred and brought again:
for it is a true faying.

fVhofo Uhdureth earneflly topreue
a» opimon to another ^ htmfelfdtfirufts
r>. Thirdly, it is a Foole thai hath
fofaid in his heart, which is moft
truc,not only in refpefl that he hath
no tafteinthofe thinges v^hicharc
fupernaturall and diuine : but m re-
fpedl of humaine and ciuill wifc-
<lome:forfirft of all, if you markc
the wits and difpofitions which arc
cnclined to Atheifme, you flisll find
them light, fcofrins .impudent, and
vaine : briefely, of fuch a conrtitu-
tion, as is moft contrary to wife-
dome and Morall gran ity.

Secondly, amongft States-men
andpolitiks, thofe which .haue bin
of grcatcft depths and compafle,

and

OfAthafme,
and oflargcft and mod vniucrfall
vnderftanding, hauc not onely in
cunning made their profit in fce-
ming religious to the people, buc
in truth hauc becnc toucht with an
inward fenee of the -knowledge of
Dyctic, as they which you (liall
cuennore note to hzwt attribu-
ted much to FortUiiEe and Proui-
dence,

Contrariwife, thofc who' af( ri-
bedall thinges to their pwne cun-
nings a id pra6\ifcs, and to tbeim-
medist anaapparantcaufes : a^idns
the Prophet faith. ; Hatte fieri ficcd
t§ their orv^e IVetSyhiUc bin alwaies
but petty counterfeit States-men,
and notcapable of the greatert a6^i-*
ons.

Laftly , this I dare affirme in '
knowledge of Nature, that ahitic
naturall Philofophie , and the firit
entrance into it, doothdiipofe the
bpinion to Atheifme ; But on the
M 2 other

Of Herepes.
other fide , much naturall Philofo-
phy,ancl wadm^ dccpc into it, will
bring about mens minds toRchgi-
on : wherefore Atheifmccucry way
feemestobc ioyned andcombincd
with folly and ignorance, feeing
nothing can be more iuftly allotted
to be the faying of Foolcs then this.
There is no God,

II. Of Herefies.

Touerrenotk^Jowmgthe Scriftnres
mer thefower of God,

L'f^j V^ ^^* Cannon is the
';^:^\lAoth^ro^z\ Canons
^§1 againRHerefie:Thc

caufes of errour arc
two : the ignorance
of

OfHere/tes.
of the will of God, and the igno-
rance or not fufficicntconfidiration
of his power, the will of G O D is
more reuealed by the Scriptures, &
therefore the precept is ; Search the
Scriptures : the will of God is more
reuealed by the Creatures,3nd ther-
fore the precept is iBehoU and conf*
derthe Creatures ; So is the fulneflc
of thepower of God to be affirmed,
as wee make no imputation to his
will, fo is the goodncflc of the will
of G O D to to be afjfirmcd, as wee
make no derogation from his po-
wer rTherforc true Religion leafed
inthemeanc, betwixt fuperftition,
with fupcrftitious Hercfies on the
one fide, and Athcifme, with pro-
phane Hereficson the other : Su-
perftitionreicding the light of the
Scriptures, and giuingit lelfe oucr
to vngrounded Traditions and wri-
tings doubtfull, and not canonical],
or to new Reuelati ons, or to vntrue
M3 In-

OfHerefies.

Interpretations of the Scriptures,

thcmfcluei doe forge and dreamc

many things of the will of G O D,

which are ftrange and farredilhnc

from the true fenfc of the fcripcures:

But Atheifiue and Thcomachy re-

bellethandiTiutinethagainftthepo-

v,cr of God, giuing no Faith to his

vuord,v\hichreucaIcthhisv\ill,vpon

a difcrcdit and vntieliefe of his po-

w er, to whom all thioges are poflfl-

ble. Now, thofc Herclics which

rpring out of this Founcaine, fcenic

more hair.ons then the other: fore-

ucn in ciuil gouernmcnt it is held an

ofteni. e in a h'gher degree, to denie

the power & authority of a Prince,

then to touch his honourand fame.

Ofthefe HcreHcs which derogate

from the power of God bcfide plain

Athcifme, there are ihrte degrees,

and they hauc all one 2nd the lame

miftery ;for si Antichnftjanify wor-

keth in a myfterie,that is, vnder the

faaddow

OfHerefes.
fiiaddowofgoodjand it Isthis, to
free & deliucr the will of Qo^S, from
all imputation and afperfion ofcuih
The firll degree, is of thofc who
make and fuppofc two principles
contrary, and fighting one againft
the other ; the one of good \ the o-
therofeuill.

The fecond degree, is of them to
whom the Maicfty of God feemes
too much wronged, in fetting vppe
and erecting againft him another
aduerfe and oppofite principle ,
namely, fuch a principle as (honld
be a6^iue and affirmatiue, that is ro
fay;caufeorFountaineof any Ef-
fenceor being: therefore rcieding
ail fuch prefumption , they doc ne-
uerthclcfle bring in againft God,a
principle Negatiue, and Priuatiue,
that is a caufe of not being and fub-
fifting, for they will haue It to be an
inbred proper worke, and Nature
M4 of

OfHereftes,

of the matter and Creature it felfe,
of it felfe to turnc againe, and re-
folueinto confufion and nothing,
not knowing that it is an cfFcd of
one and the Isme omnipotency, to
make nothing offomc-^Ahat, as to
niakcfome'Ahat of nothing. The
third degree is of thofe, who a-
bridgc and rcftrainc the former opi-
nion only to thofe humaifieadiions
v^'hich pertake of finne : which a6^i*
bns, they will haue to depend fub-
flantiucly and origioaily, and with-
out any fequell or fubordination of
caufes vpon the will, and make and
fetdowne.and appoint larger limits
of the knowledge of God then of
his power, or rather of that part of
Godspowcr(for knowledge Jt felfe
is a power whereby hee knoweth)
then of that by which he moouccb
and w'orketh, making him fore-
know fome thinges idle, and as a
looker on, vvhich he doth not pre-

^dcibnace

OfHerepes.
dcftinate nor ordaine:Not vnlike to
thatdcuile which Epict^rtu brought
into Ver77dcr it us opinion , to cake
away deftiny, and make wav to for-
tune, to wit ; the ftarc and flippe of
u4ttemu4,v^h\c\\ alwaies of the wifer
fort was rciected as a friuolous fhift ,
But wiiatfocuer depends no ofGod,
as Author and principle by inferior
linkcs nv.d degrees, that mutt atcds
be in place ofGod, and a new prin-
ciple-, and acertainc vfurpingGod :
wherefore worthily is that opinion
refufed as an indignity and deroga-
tion to the Maiefty and power of
God, and yet it is mort trucly affir-
med, that God is not the Author of
cuili^notbecaufehe is not Au-
thor, but becaufc not
as of cuill.

12.0/

-n

12. Of the Qhurch and

the Scr/ftnres,

*rhoy^ fhalt -protecl themin thy T^htr^
nade.jrom the contradiUion oftoongs^

H E contiadii^ion of

tongues dooth eueric

'jwhere meete with vs

out of the Taberna-

yclc of Godj therefore

whether foeucr thou Qialtturrvcthy
felfc, thou fhak find no end of Con-
troueriies^ except thou vvith-diaw
thy felfcinto that Tabernacle.Thou
wilt fay t'is true, and that it is to be
yndcrHood of the vnity of the
Church: but heare and note, there

was

Of theChnrch.&c,
vvas in the Tabernacle the Atke,and
in the Arke the Teftimony or tables
oFrhe Law: what doii thou tell mc
ofthe husk of the Tabernacle with-
out the Kcrncll of the Tertimonie.
The Tabernacle was ordained for
the keeping and dcliuering ouer
from hand to hand oft he tcRiir»ony.
In like manner,the cuilody and paC
fingougrof the Scriptures is com-
mitted vnto the Church, BiK
the life of the taberna-
cle is the Tefli'
monie.

FIJ^IS,

OF

The Colours of

Good andEuill,a

Fragment.

1^^

1(^13

CVt cetera partes vel feBa fecufi"
das vnAfiimii er dtjerHnt^cumfn-
guUprmcipatum fibi vtndicent, melt-
or reltquk videtm. Nam frimas ^ud"
que ex z^elo videtur fumere, Jecnndas
auteyrhj ex vero trihnere,

2 Cuiiis e^ceUent'ta vel exuferanttA
welter^ id totogevere melt us

3 ,^^5^ ad vent at em refertur mains
efi cjpiam quod ad opinioKejrL^* Adodm
am em ^prohatio eim qv,od ad optme-
Kempertifiet Imc efl.Quod^^msficlam
putaret forefxctfirfis non ejfet.

4 tSl^^^^^^ mte^ram ferpiat honu^
e^uodjiKe receptu eflmalftm, Nanu fe
reaper e nonpoj\e impntenttAgenHi eft^
potentia autcni honpim,

^ Qmd ex ^Inribm conftat^^ diui"
Jtbtlttii esi maiui quam quod expauci^
6ribmQr r*fagisv»um : -rjunu omnia
■per partes confiderata niaior a viden-
tnr : quare ^ plural it as par titim mag^
nitudinem^pr^t fefert, fortius autcm
operatur pluralitas partium p. or do ab-
fit^»a/72-j indue it jimilttndinerru infi*

r?ni.

fjiti & tm^edit comfrehenfto^effu,
6 Cuius prtuatio bena^ malum, autis

prm^tio ma/a J bonum,

7 Quod bono vicmum bonumMHoci

a bono remotum, malum,

8 Qjiodqut6 culpa (ua contra xit ^

mains malum^ quod ab externa tmvo^

Kttur^ mmm malum,
9 J2^^^ cpera^O' virtute ttoshapar^

twru eFijmaiHf bonumc^uod ab Mtt>i9

beneficio vel ab iyidulgemia foriuna

delatum^ efl^ minus bonum,

I o Gradtii vriuationis maior vlde^

tur quamgradus dimmutiortps,& r/^r-

[wi^radus incept ionii maior videtur^

qttam^ gradm incremcnti.

IN

w^w

IN dclibcratiiies the
poiniiswharisqood,
ind whaciscinll,and
of good what is grea-
ter, and of euill what is lefle.

So that the perfwaders labour
is to make things appeare good
or cuill 3 and that in higher or
lower degree » which as it may
be performed by true and fbhdc
reafons^fo ir may bee reprefen-
ted alfo by colours^popularitics
andcircumftance, which are of
fuch force, astheyfway theor-
dinnrie iudgement eyrher of a
vveake mcn^ or of a wife Man,

not

not fully and confideratcly at-
tending and pondering the mac
tcr. Befidcs their pouer to al-
ter the Nature of the fubieft in
appearance, andfoio leadc to
errourjthey are of no lefle vfe to
quicken and ftrcngthen the opi-
nions and pcrfvvafions which,
are true • for reafon? plainly de-
liuered^ and alvvayes after one
manner efpceuliy vvith fine and
faftidious minds, enter buthea-
uilyandduily : whereas, if they
be varied and haue more lifeand
vigour put into them by ihefe
formes and infinuations , tliey
caufe a ftronger apprehenfion,
and many times fuddainlie win
the mind to a refolution. Lafily
to make a true and fafe iudge-
ment,nothing can be of greater
vfe and defence to the minde,
N then

then ihcdifcoueringandreprc-

hcnfion of thcfc Colours^fhew-

ing in what cafes they hold^ and

in what they decciiic: which as

it cannot bee done 3 but out of

avcry Vniuerfall knowledge of

the Nature ofthingesjfo being

performedj it fo clearcth mans

Judgement and cleftion,as

itisthelefTeaptto

(lide into any

error.

^

A Table of the Colours,
or apparanccs of Good and E-

uilJ, and their Degrees, as places Qf
Perjwafiott and D/Jfivajt^fty and
their feucrall FalJaxei^ aA<f
the^GIchchcs of* ' '

ri<»>

Cul cetera pirtes vtl fiUa fecundas vnar^muer :
dcfcrunt^ cumfitfgula prjncipktmfibi vindi-
centy mcltor reli^ws vjdetur^nam^jmtis qux^
que ex \clo videtut fumere , feckitdas guim
i'x veto &- merito Muert^ - v ^ ' ' • ■■

O Cicero vicnt aboyt tO;
proue the Sc^i-^ot fici-'
<icn)iques, \vnich fuf*
pcnded all alFcucirationjV
tor to be the btfi j for '
N 2 i*ay^^

ATabU of the Colours
for^aitb he,iskaS:oick which phi-
lofophy is true, he will prcferrc his
owftc.Thcnask him which approa--
chcth next thetruth, he wil confcffc
the Acadcmiques.So dcalc with the
Epicure, ihit will fcart endure the
Stoicktobe in fight of him, fo ioon
as he hath placed himfelfc, heewill
place the Acadcmic]ucs nex: him.
So if a Prince took diuers compe-
titors to a placc» and examind them
feuerally , whom next themfelues
they would ratheft commend, it wer
like the ableft man (hould haucthc
moftfecond voices.

Thefallex of this colour hapneth
oft in refpef^ of cnuy, for ipcn z\t
accuftomcd after themfclues and
their ownefa6lion , to incline vnto
them which are foftci^j^and arc Icaft
in thtir way, in defpight and dero*
gation of them that hold them bar-
deft to it.So that this colour of me-
llomy & prehcmincnce is of a (ignc

of good & euilU
ofcncruation and wcaknefTc.

2 Cuius excelUntU ; vel exupera»ti4
melior^ id tgtogeKere melius.

Appertaining to this, arc the
fornoes;Z/f^ vs not wander in ge*
neraltttes : Utvs compare f articular
with part icuUr,&c, This apearancc,
though it fccmcotftrcngth^and ra-
ther Logicall then Rhctoricall , ycc
isvcryoftaFillax.

Sometime becaufe fome thinges
are in kind very caftial^vshich ifthey
cfcape, ptoue excellent, fo that the
kind is infcriourjbecaufc it is fo fub-
ie(5^ to periljbut that which is excel-
lent beingproucdisfuperior, asthe
bloflbm of March, & the blodbm of
May,vvhcrofthe French verfe goech
Burgeon de Mars enfans de Paris^
Sivn efchape-i then vant dtx.
So that the bloflbmeot May is ge-
nerally better then the bloflome of
March, and yet the bed bloflbm of
N 3 March

March is better then the bcR Blcf-
fomc of May. Somtimcs becaule the
Nature offome kinds is to be more
cqu3ll,and more indifferent, and nor
to haue very dif^ant degrces,as hath
been noted in the warmer chmates,
the people are generally more wife,
butin thcNortherne climate , the
witsofchiefc aregrearer.So in ma-
ny armies, ifthc matter fhould bee
tried by duell bctwcene two Cham-
pions, the victory fhould go on the
one fide, and yet if it be cried by the
grofle, it would goc on the other
iide : for excellencies go as it were
by chance, but kinds go by a more
ccrtaine Nature, as by Djfciplincin
Warrc.

Laftly, many kindes haue much
rcfufe,which countcruail thatwhich
they haue excellent , and therefore
generally meitall is more precious
then S^one; and yet a Diamond is
more precious then Gold.

^ Quod

pf good and chUL

5 QmdadveritAtem refertur mtt'tpu
efl qtiam quoA ad opnient . Mpdw
aute (^ frohatio euts quad opniont
pertifiiety hec eft quod quU fi clam^
fidtaret fore^faEiarPU nen ejfeti,

SO the Epicures fay of the Stoiks
felicity placed in Vertue. That it
is hke the felicity of a Player^w ho if
he were left of his auditory &:' their
applaufe, he would ftraight bee out
of hart and countenance, and there-
fore they call Vertue Bohh thcatraie.
Bur ofrichesthePoct faith :
PopuluA meftbilat^
AtmihipUudo^
And ofpleafure.

Grata fuh ima
(jaudU corde preme?tfj vnltn
JimnUte pudoru m^ .
Th'T fallaxofthis colour is fomwhat
fubtlcjthough the anlwer to the ex-
ample bcc ready, for Vertue is not
N 4 chofen

A Table efthe Colours
cho fen propter uuram popHtiirMm^^nt
Co:itraryrMle, Maxtme ommunt tf^
ipfufH reuerere-i To as a v rtuous man
vviii be vercuoiis \{\ folitMci'.ne, & not
oii)y in theatrOy chogh pcrcnJc it wil
be more (hong ^y^loiy and Fame,
as an hcatc v^ hicii is rloubled by re-
flection ; B'lt thatdcniech theiup-
pontion, it doth not i tprehcnd the
failax,v> hereof the rcprehenf-iOn is
alow,that veri«c(ruch ias is ioyned
with hborand conflict) would not
be chofen but for fame and opinion
yet it follo^A-eih not,th.at the chiefe
motiucohhecleiftion (liouldc roc
be real and for it felfe, for fame may
be only canfa impHlfitia ^zv\A nozc^ft-
fa conflittiens^ or efficiens. As it there
V'cre two hoi Tes, and the one wold
do better TAithoi't the Spur then the
other: but again, the other with the
fpur would far cx< cede the doing of
the former,giuirig him the ^purre al-
fo, yet tlie latter wjII bcc indeed to

be

be tbcbettci i)Oiic, and the forme
is lo fny^ Tnfh^the life of this horft'is
hnt in the ffnrre, vviil ;iot Tcrue as lo
a wife r.:«"igcf-iient : for flncc tiicor-
rit-ary IiiftiiifTicnt o( hbricmsnrhip
is the lpijr,and tbac it is no manner
ofimpcdimcnt J nor i urdcn, the
hortcis riot to bee recounted the
Jcflc ofvvbich \'«^ j1 not do well with-
otit the rpurre,but rather the other
is to be reckoned a dehcacy, then a
vertue; fo gl-iy and honour are the
fpursro vertuc : and although vcr-
tue would languifh withoic them,
yet {incc they be ai\^'aiesatha:>d to
attend vertue, vcrtue is not to bee
faid the leiic chofen for it (elfe, bc-
cauie it needcd^i the Spur of tame &
reputation : and therefore that pcfi-
tion,A'<:>M eim ret cf, propter optnioMe
et rd proptcrveriatemeiigttur ^ hac
efi qaod qtti^ ficUm put cret fore fnc-
ttirm non efjet is reprehended.

A 7 Able of the Colours

4 Quod rem integrum feruat honum^
' c^uod fine recoptu eft malnm, Naitu
Jercctpere nonpoffe impotenttA ge*
. nu.i eft^potcnttA AUtem bonnm*

HErfofe^/op framed the Fable
of the two Frogs that conful-
ten togither in the time of drowth,
(when many plaflies that they had
rcpayred to) were dry what was to
be done, and the one propounded
to go downc into a dcepc Well, be-
caufe it was like the water wold not
faile there ; but the other anfwercd,
yea, but ifit do faile, how fliall we
get vp againc. And the reafon is,
thathumaine actions , arefovnccr-
taine and fubie6^ to pcrillcs, as that
fecmcth the bel» courfc which hath
mofl paflagcs out of it. Apcrtaining
tothis perlwafion, the formes arc,
youfhAl engage your [elf ^QT\ the other
C\dQ,TAKtnmyqy»antum^ voles fumes

ex

$jgooa ana eutli^
exf^nuna^ you fliall keep tbc mat-
ter in your ownc hand. ThcRcpre-
henfion ofic is. That proceeding ay^d
. refo!m?jg tn al actions is f7rceJpiry,ltot
as he faith vjcU^fJot to rejoUeM to re
y^//i^^, and fTjany times it brccdes as
Tpany nccefsitJes, andctigageth as
far in fomc othei (orc,as torcfo^ue.
So itisbut the couctoub Mans dif-
cafe tranflatcd in power, for the cO'
uetousinan vv'illenioy nothing, be-
caule he willhauchis full ft ore ^ri
pofsibility to enioy the morcj i*3 by
thisrcafon, a man Dioulrl cKccutc
nothing becaufe he^iouldbec fijll
indiffcrcnt,and st liberty to execute
anything. Befides, neccfsicie and
x\\\s(zn\ziiiBaefl alea, hath m^nie
times andaduantage, becaufe it a-
wakeththc powers of the m-nde,
and flrcngthencth endcauour, Ca-
teris parct necefstt^itecerrefeipenoref

5 Quod

A T'^hh of the Colours

^ Qnod ex plurihm cost net dtHtfibili"
Hsej} maiHS qtiam cjuod expaucio^
Tibm dr magi^ vnutn: tja om»t4fey
partes conftderata mAiora vide^tur
(juare et plHrd'/tasparttum magni"
tndwem ^r£ fefert ^fortius auterrL*
oferctturpluralitas partiam ft ordo
fibjlt , risim inducit fimtlitudt»e tn^
finttti CT tmpedtt comprehertfionem^

THis colour fecmech palpable,
for it is not plurality of partes
without maiorityoF parts that ma-
k"rh the total greater, yet ncuerthc-
le<1c it often carries theTnipd a'A ay^
yea it cieceiueth the fence , as it fec-
nieth to the eie a fliorter difianceof
way if ic be all dead and continued,
then if it haue trees or buildings, or
any other markes, v-hcreby the eye
may diuideit, So^A'hen a great mo-
nied man hath djuided his chefts &
coines^and bags,he fecmcth to him

ielfe

fclfc richer then he v. as , and there*
fore a vvay to amplifie any thing, is
to brcakc it, and to make Anatomy
of it in reuetall paris,and to examine
it according to feueral circumiian-
CCS , And this makcth the greater
fhevv if it be done without order/oc
confufion makcth thinges muftcr
more,andbe{idcs what is fctdownc
byorderanddiuifion doth dcmon-
ftratethat nothing is left out or o-
mitted» but all is there, whereas ific
be without order, bothilie mindc
compiehchdeth le{fe that which is
fetdownc, and bc(^dcs itleauetna
fufpition, as ifmore mipht bee faid
then i«cxpre (Ted. This colour dc-
ceiuethjif the mindeof him chat is
tobcperfwaded, doofit fclfeouer
concciueorprciudge ofthe greats
ncflc ofariy thing/or then the brea-
king ofitwill make it fecm Icfle be-
cauYe ititiaketbitappearemorc ac-
cord in o to the truth, and therefore

A Table of the Colours
jfa an be infickncfleorpainc, the
itiue 'A'llI iecmc longer without a
ti' tkror houre-ghffethcQ uithit,
for die mind doch value cucric mo-
njeit,anf!then the hourcdooth ra-
ther T^nvp the moments, then di-
uide trie day. So in a dead plain, the
^v y lee mcih the longcrjbecaufe the
eyf h$b preconccuicd it inortcr the
tne rruih : and the fruftrating of that
maker!) it fcem longer then the tru-
cth. Therefore, jf any man haue an
c_' I gret opinion of any thing,then
it another thinke by breaking it in-,
tpi'uerallconiuicrations, hcefhali
ri>2kc it feeme greater to him, hcc
vvill bedec^iucd;and therefore, in
fuch cafes it is not fafe to diuide,butr
:o extol! the entire ftUlin genera!!,..
Another cale wherein this Coiourj
dcceiucih,is, when the matter bro-:;'-
ken or dcuided is not coprchendcd
by the fence or made at oiice in re-
aped of the di(tra(^ing or 'fcatte-

9f good And etttH.
ring ofit,and being incire, an^^ noc
diuidcdjis comprehended, as a hun-
dred pounds in heapsof fiue pounds
will flievvc more then in one grofTc
heape, fo as the heapes be all vppoa
one Table to be feene at once,ochcr
wife not ; as Flowers growing feat-
ccred in diuers beds,v^'ill fnevv mor«
then if they did grow in one Beu jo
as althofc Beds be within a Piotte,
that they be obiedtoviewat once,
otherwifc not ; and therefore men,
vvhofcliuinglyeth together in one
Shire, are commonly counted grea-
ter landed, then thoic whofeliuing*
arc difperfed , though it bcc more ,
bccaufcofthe notice and compre-
hcnfion, A thiid cafe, wherein this
colour dccciueth , and it is not fo
properly a cafe or rcprehen(ion,as it
IS a counter-colour, being in cffc6^,
as large as the colour it felfe , and
that is, Omnii comftpto ifidigentU
cntnfUm vidttw ejfe particeffy be-

caulc

ji Tabic of the Colours
caufcifonc thing wo »]d ferue the.
turn it vvcrceuer beft,butthcdcfed
and imperfc<5iions of thingcs that
hath brought in that helpc to pcccc
the vp as it is (xi^t ^Martha, A^arth.t
attendis adplurtfijay v 7umfffffictt,So
Ijkcv ifc h- ereupon EJop tramcd the
fable ofthe Fcx and.ihc Cat,\vheras
iheFo bragged what a number of
fiii^s and dcuifcs hrc had to get fro
the hounds^and theCat faid flic had
butone, uhich was to chmb a tree,,
which in pioo^e was better woorth
then all the rcil^whcrofthe proucrb
grew, Afulta nomt f'^m'peryJedFelis
vnum magnnm. And in the mprall of
this table^it corneslikewife to paflt;
That a good furc friend is a better
help at a pinch, the al the Hratagcms
& policies of a mans own wit. So ic
falleth out to be a common error ii|','
negociating,wherasmcnhaue nia-,,
nyreafons to induce or perfvvadej
tncy (iriue commonly to vtcer& vie

I hem

ofgoodnndefi'tlL
them all ac once, which wcakneth
them. Foricarguethaswas faide, a
nccdinefie in eueryof the reafons
by It felfc, as if one did not truft to
any of chem , but fled fiom one to
another, he/ping himfelfc only with
that.£r ^«<e n$'ffprofuntJttfgHU multa,
/»«^«r. Indcedeinafetfpeechinan
affembly it is expe<5^ed a man fLould
vfe all his reafons ia the cafe hee
handlcthjbut in priuate pcrfwafions
it is alwaies a great errour. A founh
cafe wherein this Colour may be re-
prehended is, in refpefl ofthac fame
vif vnita fortior ^ according to the
taleof the French K. that when the
Empcrours Ambaffador had recited
his Maimers ftile at large, which c6-
frfkth of many countries and domi-
nions: the French Kiag willed his
Chancclibr or other minifter, to re*
peat oucr France as many tinjes, as
the other had recited the feueraldo-
mioionsyintcnding it wasequiualcc
vith the ali^and more compai^ed &
O » vnitedo

%A TdbUfffthe Colours
vnitcd. There is alfo appcrcaining
to this colour another point, why
breaking of a thing doth help it,noc
by way of adding a (hew of magni-
tude vnto it, but a note of excellen-
cy and rarity : whereof the formes
7Lrc,fVhere/haliyoufincUff4ch a con*
CHYrence f Great ^ but ttot cowfleate,
for it feemcs a Icflc worke of Na-
ture or FortuiTC, to make anything
jn his kind greater then ordinarie,
then to makea ftrange compofition.
Yet if it bee narrowly confidered,
this Colour will be reprehended or
cncountredby imputing to all ex-
cellenciesin compoiitions a kind of
pouerty , or at leafl a cafualty or
ieopardy,for from that which is ex-
cellent in greatneffe, foine-what
may be taken or there may be a dc-
C8y,and yet fufficiencyleftjbut from
that which hath his price in compo-
fitiofvif you take away any ihing,or
any part do failc, ail is difgraced.

Ofgoodandeuill,

'.O

friH4tiomalabo)Jum,

THE formes to makrit concei-
licd.that thst wars cuill which
is changed for the better are : Hee
that is in HeH, tkinkes there is no o^
tker Heauen, St at Is ejttercWy Acorn^
wereg9odttll Bread was foufid, x^Ci
Andofthe other fide, the formes to
make it concciucd , that that wai$
good which was chaungcd for the?
worfc, are ; Bona m^gis carendoqua
jrueyidsfenti^ud : bona a trr?oform9^
fijfimd . C^ood. things nener appeare /'»'
their full beauty^ ttllthsy twne their
bac^^ahdbe going ar^ajj rfrc, Tht
reprchcnfionof this colour is, that
the good or euill which is remoued
may be cfteemed good or euil com-
paritiuely,andnotpofitiuely orfim-
ply.Sothatifthepriuaiionbegood,
itfoilowts not the fonncr conditi-
O 2 on

A Tabu ofihe Colours
on was cuill, but Icffe good, for the
flower or bloflbme, is apo^tiuc
good, although the rcmonc of it to
giue place to the fruit, be acompa-
ritiuc good. So in the talc ofty£fip,
^hen the oldc fainting man in the
beat of the day caft downe his bur-
then and called for death, and when
death came to know his will with
him, faid it was for nothings but to
help him vp with his burthen again :
itdooth not follow, that becaufc
death which was the priuatio of the
burthen was ill, therfore the burden
was good. And !ti this part the or-
dinary forme of Malum neceffariftm
aptly rfprehcndeth this Colour, for
Triuatio malinecejfarij efi mdiay and
yetthat doth not conuert the nature
of theneceffary euill, bi ' tiseuill.
Againc, itcommeth fomctimcs
to pafle, that there is an equality iL
the change of priuation , and as it
were a LHlemma boni^ or a Dilemma

mdli^

9f good And euiU.
malt, fothac the corruption of the
one good, is a generation of the o-
tlicr^ Sorti pater o^^fiw vtrique eft:
and contrary,thc remedy of the one
cuiljis the occaflon and commence-
ment of another, as in SciHa and
Char Mis,

7 Quodhor79vicwumbonfim,quod
a bono remetum, malum,

SVch is the nature of things, that
thinges contrarie and di(ianc in
Nature and quahty, are alfo fcucrcd
and difioyned in place, and thinges
like andconfcnting inqualitie are
placed, and as it were quarired to-
gether, for partlie in regard of the
Nature, to fpread, multiply, and
infe6l infimilitude ; and partly, in
regard ofthcNature/to breake, ex-
pell , and alter that which is difa-
grceable and contrary, raoft things
doe cyiher afTociatc and draw
O 3 nccra

\A Table of the Colours
liccre to thcmiclues the like , or ac
Icaft aflimilatc to thcmrclucs thac
\vhich approachcth nccrc ihcm,and
doe alfo driue away, chaie, and ex-
terminate tbcir contraries. And thac
is the reafon commonly yeildcd
why the middle Region of theayrc
ftiouldbe coldeft, becaufe the Sun
and Starres are either hot by direjSl
beames or by reflcd^ion. The dirc6t
beames heat the vpper Region, the
refle£^ed beames from the Earth
and Se2S5heatc the lower Region.
That v.hich is in the middeft, being
furtheftdiftant in place from thcfc
two Regions of heate, aremoftdi-
f!a.nt in nature that iscolde(t,which
is that ihcy tearme cold or hot. Per
amifater afiafn^ that is ; iuuironing
by contraries, which was pieafantly
taken hold ofhy him that faid, thac
anhoneft man in thcfe daies,muft
needs be more honeft then in ages
heretofore : Propter amiferiftafiui

becaufe

ofgoodandetiiU*
bccaufethefliutting of him in the
middcftof contraries mui^ needcs
makcthe honcfty firongcrand more
compad in it felfe . The rcprehcnfi-
on of this colour is, firft many
things of amplitude in their kind do
as it wereingrofletothcmfelues al,
and leaue that which is next them
raoft deftitute, as the Shoots or Vn-
derwood that grow necre a great
and fpread Tree, is the moft pyned
and (hrubby wood of the fielde,be-
caufethe great Tree dooth depriuc
and deceiuethemofthefap andno-
rifhmcnt, To hee faith well, Dinites
ferui maximeftrui : and the compa-
rifon was plcafantof him, thatco*
pared Courtiers attendant in the
Courtcs of Princes , without great
place or oiEce , to fa()ing daies»
which were next the Holydaies,but
othcrwilc were the Icancft daies in
all the weeke.

Anothcrrcprchcnfion is , that
O4 things

t/^ Table of the Colours
tbinges of greatnefl'c and prcdomU
rjancyj though they do not cxtenu-
are the ihinges adioyning in lub-
ftancc, yet they drowne them and
obfcure them in (hew and appca-
rancc^and therfore the Aftronomers
fay, that vvhcras in all other Planets
•coniun£lion is the pcrfcfleft amicy :
thcSuncontrariwilc is good by a(^
pect, but cuill by coniunction.
• Athird reprehenfion is, becaufc
emllapprochcthtogoodlornciinies
for concealement. Tome times for
protection : and good to cuill, for
conuerfion and reformation . So
Hypocrific draweth ncere to religi-
onforcouert and hiding it felfc:
Sdpe latet vttiuTTi^ prgximitate hom^
and fandtuary men which were
commonly inordinate mcnjand ma-
lefactors, were wont to bee nccre^
toPriefisandPrelats, & holy men,
for the Maicfly of good ihingcsis
fiich, as the Confines of them arc

rcuerend.

cfgoodc^etiilL
reucrcnd. On chc other fide, our
Sauiour charged with neerencfTcof
publicans and Rioters, Taide; The
Vhyfitian aproachcth tbefick^tben the
whole,

8 Qmdi^tiis culpa fua centraxit^
matHi malum ^ cjnod ab extemis tmto^
nitury mmm malum,

T'Hercafonis, bccaufe the ding'
and rcmorfc of the mind accu-
Hng it felfe , doiibleth all aduerfity :
contrariwife, the confidcring and
recording inwardly, that a Man is
clearcand free from fault, and iuft
imputation, dooih attemper out-
ward calamities. For if the will
be in the fence , and in the Confci-
cncc both , there i^ a gemination
ofit, but if euill bee in the one, and
comfort in the other, it is akindof
compcniation,fo the Poets in Tra-
gedies doe make the moi'l palTio-

natc

A Table of the Coleurs
nate lamentations, and rhofe that
forerun finall difpaire , to be accu-
fing,queftioning,and torturing of
amansielfe.

S^que vnu'iTu tUnu at caufumque
capt4t qne mAlomrru , And contrari- \
wife the excremicies of worthy per- 1
fons hauc bin annihilated in the con
fidcrarion of their own good defer-
uing. Bcfides, when theeuill com-
mcth from without , there is left a
l(ind of euaporation of gi iefe, if ic
come by humane iniurie,cyther by
indignation and meditating of re* \
uenge from our felues, or by expc* '
^lingofforc-conceiuingjthac Ne^
mefis and retribution will take hold
of the Authors of cur hurt, or if ic
be by fortune or accedcnt,yet there
is left a kinde of expoftulation a-
gainft the diuine powers. v^r^D^w
tttque aftra vecat crudeha mater.

But where the euili is deriued from
a mans ownc fault , there all ftrikcs

ef good and euilL
deadly inwrds, ana llificcateth.Thc
reprehcnHon ofthJs colour is,h"tit in
refpc^lofhope, rorrtforniaEion of
our faults is in Nofiraprcteflate^huz
amendment ot our fortune (imply is
not. Therefore Demcfihems in ma-
ny of hisOrations bithihus to the
people o{ AtheyiS'/T'hatrvktch hamnfr
regard to the time f^fi in the ivorfl
poiKt andctrcumfiance of nil the reB,
that 06 to the time to eome is the besi •
what is that f Suen this^ that by yonr
Jloth^irrefol(4tiofi,a'^dmtfgoaer72metft^
your affaires are grown e to this decli-
nation^ and decay. For had yon vfed
and ordered yofir weanes and forces to
the hefl, and dane your pjirts euery way
to the full ^ and notwithfianding your
matters [hould hauegone backward m
this matter as they do. there hadhiri no
hope left ofrecouery or reputation, but
Jince n hath bin only by our oivn errors,
&cSo Bpictetusin his dcgtees faith.
The worftfiate of man is to cxcufe ex^

tcrne

)

A TMe of the Colour^
ierne things better then that to aecufi
a mansjeife^ and befk of all to accuje
neither^

Another reprchenfion of this
CoIour,is in refpcctofthe well bea-
ring of cuils, wherewith a man can
charge no body but himfelfcjwhich
inaketh them the lefle.

heue fit quod bene fertHY onus ^
And therefore many natures, thaj;
are either extreamly proud, and will
take no fault to themfehies, or elfe
very true , and cieauing to them-
felues (when they fee the blai'aeof
any thing that fals out ill^muft light
vppon thcmfelues) haue no other
fi^ift but to beare it out well, and to
make the Icart of it, for as wee fee
when fometimes a fault is commit-
ted,and before it be knowne who is
to blame, much adoe is made of it,
but after if it appeare to be done by
a Sonne,orbyaWife,orby a necre
fricnd,thcn it is light iwadc of . Sq

much

of good (^ euiil,
much more when a man mu ft cake it
vpon himfeire. And therefore it is
commonly fecrie, that women chac
marry Husbands of their owne chu-
(ingagainft their Friends confents,
if they be neuer fo ill vfcd^ yet you
ihali Qdomc fee them complagica
but ki a good face on ir.

9 JSj:!^^ opera, ^ vrrtute ftofhap^.r-
ttirru eft mains bonftmyquod ah alten^
heneficio vet ah indulgentia fortffna
deUtfintj efi^minus honum,

TH E reafons are firft the future
hopCj bccaufe in the fauours of
others, or the good windcs of For-
tune, we haue no (rate or ccrtaintic
in our indcuours , or abilities wee
hauc.So as when they haue purcha-
fed vs one good fortune, wee haue
ihem as ready and better edged and
inuironed to procure another.
The formes be, Ton haue won this

h

A TMc of the Colours
hy flay ^yonhat^e net oneiy the Water ^
hut you haue the receipt, you can maki
it agaivte tf it be lofi, (frc Next, bc-
caufe thcle prop ^rcies which wc en-
joy by the benefit of others, carrie
with them an obhgation,\vhichfee-
meih a kind Gfbiirchcn,wheras the
other which dcriue from our fclues
are hkc the frecft Parents , Abfque
alicj'io inde feddendOi^^nd if they pro-
cec<!e from Fortune or Prouidcncc,
yet they fecme to touch vs fecretlic
with the leuerence ofthcdiuincpo*
wers,whofe fauours wee tall , and
therefore worke a kind of religious
feareandrcftrainr, whereas in the
other kind , that comes to pafle,
which the Prophet fpeakt:rh . ZL/C-
tiKtur exult ins ^ immolnm tUgisfU"
ftf "» ^ facr/fic^'^t rett fuo.

Thirdly, bccaolc that vhich com-
meth vnto vs without our own ver- -*
tuc, yeildeth not that commenda-
lion and rcputatiorSjfoj: adlions of

great

of good and etiilL
great felicitymay draw wonder,biit
praifc^lefle ; as Ctcerafzifi to Cafar^
e^na miremHY Joahemu^^qudi Uudtmut
€XfectAirim»

Fouribly, bf caufe the puichafcs
or our o'Aneindultric, arc ioyned
coiTiiiionly \\\i\\ labour and iirSc^
w'h'chsiues an edge and appctire,
and makcsthe fruition of ourdrfrcs
inore pleafant , Suauis cihpu a vs"
natH,

On the other fide, there be fonre
counter Colours to this Colour ra-
ther then reprchenlions , bccauie
they be as large aschc colouritfelf,
firft becaufefelicicy fccmeth tobca
charracterof the fauourandloueof
the diuine powers, and accordingly
worketh both confidence in our
felucs, and refpcct and authoritic
from others. And thisfelic'tycx-
icndcih to many caCuall rhirges,
whereunto the care or vertueof man
cannot extend, and therefore fee-

meth

A Table of the Colour f
meth to bee at large good, as when
Crf/^rfaidtothc Saylcr ; Captre?n^
fortod c^fortfifiam e^us^uht had laid,
Et virtute "tHs , ithadbeene fmall
comfortagainnaTempelt, other-
wife then ifit might fecm vpon me-
rit to induce fortune,

Nexr,w'hatfoeucr is done by ver-
tueandindutiry, fccmes tobedonc
by a kind of habit and art, and ther-
vpon open to bee imitated and fol-
lowed, whereas felicity is imitablc :
fo we generally fee, that thingcs of
Nature feemc more excellent then
things of ait, bccaufe they be imita-^
ble :for,^<»^ mitahile ej},poteKtU.
quadam vHlgatunu eB^ '■ ♦

Thirdly, Felicity commcndcth
thofc things which commeth with- ..
out our owne labour, for ihcy fecm
guiftes,andthe other feemespeny
worths : wherupon ?/«Mrf^ iaich c-
Iceantly of the acts o^VmoUo.vJho

was

•fgoBu and cHtli,
when he firftgrowes behind, more
then afterwards when hee prooues
nothing worth.And heerof the com
inon formes are. Sera tnfnfido ferfi"
monia, and as good neiicr a w hit, as
ncucr the better, &c. It is reprehen-
ded alfo in refpe6^ of that Notion ^
Csrruptio vniHsgeneratto alter tus: To
lUzt graduAprwattonH is roany times
lefTe matter, becaufe it giues the
caufe,& motiue to fom new courfe.
As when Dcmoflhenes reprehended
the peoplcfor harkning to the con-
ditions offered by King Philltf^z^
ing not honorable nor equall , hec
faith they wcr but elements of their
flothandweakcneffe, which if they
were taken away, neccfsity would
teach themftrongerrcfolutions.So
Do6^or HeB$r was wont to fay vnto
the Dames of London, when they
complained they were they couldc
not tell how.but yet they could not
endure to take any Medicine, hee
P 2 would

A Table of the Colours
v^ould tell chem, their way was only
to be fickc, for then they would bcc
glad to take any Medicine.

Thirdly, this colour may bee re-
prehendeo, in refpcdt chat the degrc
ofdecrcafeismoic ienntiuc, then
the degree of primcion , for the
niindeof men , gratkidiminutionts
may vvoorke a wauering betweenc
hope and feare, and kecpe she mind
infuip^nce, from fetling and acco-
modating in paciencc and refoluti-
cn ; hcercof the common formes
zxCy Better eye out, then alwuyes ake^
cnakcor raarre^&c.
. For the fccond branch of this cq^
lour,it depends vpon the fame ge-
ne rail reafon ; hence grew the com-
mon place of extolling the begin-
nin<j: ofeuf*ry th\u ^,'DtmuiMm^fa^i
qui hne coe^tt hahet. This made the
i^nroiogersfoidlcas fo iudgc of a
rnans nature and deftiny by the con-
ftellation of the moment of bis Na-

ciuuy

tiuity,orconcepcion# This Colour
is reprehended , becaufemanie in-
ceptions are but as iTpiu/zr/z^rermcth
them, fif;;r4zw^»r«,thatis, imperfedt
OtfersandafiaieSjW'hichvaniriiancl
cometdno fubftancc without anic
iteration fou^ in Uich cafes tbc fc«
cond degree feemes the wortnieii ,
asthebody-horfein the Carce, that
draweth more then the forehoufc,
heereof the common formes are,
thefecondyiow make^thefrfiyythefe-
C0nd vpord make f the hArgatrtey Alter
prhicipium ded/t, alter modu ahfltiltty
&c^ Another reprchenfion of this
colour is in refpeil of defatigation ,
which makes pcrfeucrance o\^ grea-
ter dignity then inception,for chacc
orinflindlof nature maycaule in-
ception,but fctled affection or iudg
ment maketh the continnance.

Thirdly, this colour is reprehen-
ded i., fuch thingcs which haue a
natural courfc and inclination, con-
P 5 traiic

^"1 Talffcofthtf Co four f
trary to an inception. Sj that the
inception is continually euacuated
;ind gcrsnoftatt, buttnerc behoo-
ueth perpetua inceptio, ? s in the com-
inon i^nnc^NoMprogrediy efi regredi,
^Htnonproficit^ dtficn. running a*
gainft the hill: ro\M.i; againft the
(heamc, (^r. For if it be with the
ikcame, or with the iiill, then the
degree of inception is more then all
the reft.

Foutphly, this colour is to be vn-
dexRoodeof^radwi^Jceptionisa po»
tentiaj ad actum cumparatns CHgrA"
duj ah act H ad increment Hm , For,
othcrwire, Maior videtHrgradus ab
impotentta^ *id pot
Uni/aadaBtirTLj,

impotentta^ *id potenttAm, qnam Afo

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